Exploring Professional, Patient, and Student Perceptions of Innovative Pharmacist Roles in Non-Traditional Settings

Abstract

Specific Aims: To describe professional, patient, and student perceptions of innovative pharmacist roles in non-traditional settings compared to traditional settings, including aesthetic medicine, medical marijuana, weight loss clinics, and sports medicine. Methods: An online survey was administered via Qualtrics with multiple-choice, multi-select, and Likert-style questions. Eligible participants included PharmD students, University of Arizona employees and other students, pharmacists, and professionals in the target fields. Descriptive statistics summarized responses, and chi-square tests compared differences by role. Results: 263 respondents participated (159 pharmacists, 93 PharmD students, 3 other professionals, 8 others). Significant relationships were found between role and understanding of traditional pharmacist roles and awareness of nontraditional roles. 84.5% of pharmacists, 44.7% of PharmD students, and 40% of others reported excellent understanding of pharmacist roles in traditional settings (p < 0.00001). In contrast, only 12.2% of pharmacists, 5.3% of PharmD students, 0% of other professionals, and 20% of others reported excellent understanding of pharmacist roles in non-traditional settings (p = 0.652). Pharmacists (60.1%) were previously aware of nontraditional roles more often than PharmD students (38.7%), professionals (33.3%), and others (20%) (p = 0.00835). Overall, 95% agreed pharmacist involvement would improve patient outcomes in nontraditional settings without a difference among roles (p = 0.307). Identified barriers included lack of training (31%), interprofessional collaboration (26%), regulation (22%), patient acceptance (14%), and perceived benefit (7%). Conclusions: While respondents believed pharmacist involvement in non-traditional settings would improve patient outcomes, limited understanding and other barriers may be prohibitive.