The Changing Retail Environment: Its Influence On Professionalism In Chain And Independently Owned Pharmacies

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if pharmacists could be differentiated with respect to practice site based on their responses to several questions related to professionalism and its consequential influence on pharmacy image. Results revealed that several qualities associated with professionalism (e.g., skills, knowledge, ethics, service, and environment) could be used to distinguish pharmacists by practice site. In general, pharmacists whose primary practice sites were a chain store pharmacy evaluated the items relating to professionalism, work environment, and image more negatively than pharmacists whose primary practice sites were an independently owned pharmacy. Implications for the retail marketing environment, pharmacy management, and pharmacy image are also discussed.