TRUSTING THE PHARMACIST IN DELIVERING MEDICATION INFORMATION: A COMMUNITY-BASED PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Objective: Optimal disease management is influenced by a solid patient-health provider relationship; which includes trust in the provider. The study compares respondents’ trust in pharmacists and physicians for the delivery of drug information. Methods: Residents of 3 rural communities in Lebanon, aged 40 and above, were invited to participate in the study, 760 accepted. Participants were asked who they trust the most with information about their medication: their physician or their pharmacist. Results: Of the total sample, 154 chose the pharmacist as their most trusted source of medication information (20%). Characteristics associated with choosing the pharmacist were: being a male (29.3% vs 16.2% p <50 y, 18.8% among 50-64 y, and 14.6% among 65+years p