Assessment of pharmacists' opinions toward the behind-the-counter category of medications.

OBJECTIVES

To determine pharmacists' opinions toward implementation of a behind-the-counter (BTC) category of medications and assess pharmacists' level of agreement with dispensing certain medications in this category.

METHODS

473 licensed pharmacists from Ohio were randomly selected for inclusion in the study, 248 of whom completed the survey (52.4% response rate). A self-administered, mailed questionnaire was used to collect data on pharmacists' opinions toward a BTC category, including usefulness to patients, reimbursement issues, impact on patient care, and access issues. The researchers also assessed the degree to which pharmacists felt educationally prepared regarding a BTC category and the potential need for further training and/or education. The questionnaire also included 25 prescription drugs identified from pharmacist focus groups to evaluate appropriateness for inclusion in a BTC category.

RESULTS

Pharmacists moderately agreed (5.78 ± 1.33 [mean ± SD]) that introducing a BTC category of medication would advance the profession's goals of providing more pharmacist-directed patient care. Pharmacists also moderately agreed (6.09 ± 1.71) that patient counseling should be mandatory before providing any medications in a BTC category. At their current practice site, pharmacists moderately agreed (5.65 ± 1.62) that they would participate in providing BTC medications; however, they felt the largest issue pertaining to a BTC category of medications was the added amount of time that would be spent with patients (5.34 ± 1.53). On the other hand, pharmacists moderately agreed (5.82 ± 1.26) that they would take the time to counsel patients on BTC medications. Prescription prenatal vitamins (1 mg folic acid), triamcinolone cream, silver sulfadiazine cream, mometasone nasal inhalation, fluconazole 150 mg, epinephrine injection, promethazine, and mebendazole were considered the most appropriate for a BTC category of medications.

CONCLUSION

Ultimately, pharmacists moderately agreed that a BTC category is a change in the pharmacy profession that they were willing to embrace.