There are three styles of self-expression: ``non-assertive,'' which puts the self first and puts others first; There is an "assertive" attitude that respects and tries to deepen mutual understanding. Assertiveness is known as one of the communication skills that enables one to express oneself openly while respecting others, and is useful, for example, when advising between medical professionals when there are concerns about the safety of treatment. , is also considered useful in terms of medical safety.
This time, in a study at the University of Tsukuba, it was found that the assertiveness of pharmacy pharmacists is related to changes in prescriptions due to communication from pharmacists to doctors.Pharmacists working at dispensing pharmacies provide drugs to patients based on prescriptions issued by doctors. to contact.At this time, it is expected that the pharmacist's assertiveness will help in speaking to the doctor.
In fact, we investigated the relationship between assertiveness (assessed by the Interprofessional Assertiveness Scale) and the frequency of prescription changes due to contact with doctors over the past month based on the results of a web questionnaire that received responses from 963 pharmacy pharmacists. As a result, it was found that pharmacists with high assertive self-expression scores were more likely to be contacted by doctors leading to prescription changes.
It is said that when a doctor decides to prescribe a drug, it is influenced by communication with the pharmacist he trusts.The results of this survey suggest that pharmacists' assertive self-expression, which seeks to deepen mutual understanding with physicians, may lead to gaining the trust of physicians and encourage physicians to change their prescriptions.
Assertiveness is a communication skill that can be improved through education.Assertiveness education for pharmacists is expected to contribute to the improvement of drug treatment safety if it is possible to promote necessary communication with doctors when there are concerns about the safety of prescriptions.
Paper information:[Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy] Relationship between assertiveness in community pharmacists and pharmacist-initiated prescription changes
