Factors associated with the pharmacist counselling without dispensing.

Purpose: To describe the pharmacist counselling without dispensing and to analysed the characteristics of pharmacies and pharmacists that provide this type of counselling, and the characteristics of customers that receive it to a greater extent.

Methods: We carried out a cohort study on a sample of 166 pharmacists in North West Spain. Different characteristics of pharmacists and clients and other variables related to counselling were measured (who initiates the consultation; type of consultation; whether or not the patient consulted with a doctor previously and who is the receptor of the counselling) were included in the models as independent variables.

Influence of pharmacists' opinions on their dispensing medicines without requirement of a doctor's prescription.

Objective: To assess the influence of pharmacists' opinions on their dispensing medicines with a "medical prescription only" label without requiring a doctor's prescription.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of 166 community pharmacies in northwest Spain. The opinions of pharmacists on the following were collected as independent variables through personal interview: a) physicians' prescribing practices; b) the pharmacist's qualifications to prescribe; c) the responsibility of the pharmacist regarding the dispensed drugs; d) the customer' qualifications for self-medication; and e) the pharmacist's perception of his or her own work.

Factors related with prescription requirement to dispense in Spain.

Purpose: To identify factors associated with prescription requirement to dispense.

Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study on a sample of 166 pharmacists in North-West Spain. The following independent variables were collected through a personal interview: pharmacist's education and speciality, characteristics of the pharmacy, and its socio-economic environment.