Effect of therapeutic class on counseling in community pharmacies.

Objective: To assess the effect and importance of the therapeutic class of a drug as a determinant for verbal counseling by community pharmacists.

Methods: Direct external observations (n = 1431) of pharmacist-customer interactions at the point of delivery of prescription medicines were conducted in 7 community pharmacies in Finland. Trained observers noted whether the pharmacist provided information on directions for use, mode of action, and adverse effects.