醫院藥師提供用藥指導之態度與行為意向

Background and Purpose: For the safer medication treatment, how to use the medicines correctly is a very important issue that patients have to know. A pharmacist should conduct patient counseling when handing over the medicine to the patient in order to increase medication safety and reduce medication errors. This study aimed to emphasize the importance of patient counseling as well as to explore pharmacists' attitude and behavioral intention of patient counseling in ambulatory care. Methods: The research questionnaire was developed based on Ajzen's ”Theory of Planned Behavior”. Subjects were selected from different levels of hospitals in Taipei. A total of 544 questionnaires were mailed out; in the end, 414 valid questionnaires were returned, with an effective response rate of 71.87%. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA, correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were used in data analysis. Results: Pharmacists have high attitude toward to patient counseling and there was a significant relationship between pharmacists' attitude, subject norm, perceived behavioral control and behavioral intention of patient counseling. However, only the pharmacists' attitude and subject norm had significant effects on the behavioral intention of patient counseling. Although the amount of prescription in regional hospitals and district hospitals was less than that of medical centers, pharmacists' workload was heavier and work time was longer. Conclusion: If the amount of prescription was too much, pharmacists only can check the correctness of prescription then hand over to patients without providing prescription rechecking, screening and patient counseling. It means that with appropriate workload, pharmacists will be able to provide their professional service to improve medication safety.