Korean J Clin Pharm.  2021 Dec;31(4):301-310. 10.24304/kjcp.2021.31.4.301.

Public Trust in Community Pharmacists in South Korea: A Survey Study

• Yoon SW
• Han HS
• Park HY
• Sohn HS

• KMID: 2524617
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.24304/kjcp.2021.31.4.301

Abstract

Background
Trust is a key component for the good relationship between patients and healthcare professionals but trust for community pharmacists has not been studied much.
Objectives
This study aimed to measure public trust in community pharmacists and to investigate variables that affect trust level in South Korea.
Methods
A total of 25 questions, including 13-items for three dimensions of trust (pharmacists’ behavior/attitude, technical competence, communication skills) and 1-item for overall trust were developed. The survey was conducted online and the data from 416 respondents were analyzed with a t-test, an ANOVA and a multiple linear regression analysis.
Results
The average scores (mean ± standard deviation) for the three dimensions of trust in community pharmacists were 3.47±1.05 (out of 5 points) for pharmacists’ behavior/attitude, 3.67 ± 0.99 for technical competence, and 3.66±0.99 for communication skills. The average of the 13 items incorporating all parameters was 3.56±1.02 and the overall trust level was 7.16±1.62 (out of 10 points). The total sum of the 13 items differed significantly by age group (p=0.02) and frequency of pharmacy visits (p=0.04). Each dimension had an independent impact on the trust level, and pharmacists’ behavior/attitude had the greatest impact on trust levels.
Conclusions
This study showed that pharmacists’ behavior/attitude had the most significant impact on the trust level. However, the level of trust in pharmacists’ behavior/attitude is not yet sufficiently satisfactory, and further improvements are required to increase trust in community pharmacists.

Keyword

Trust in pharmacist; trust scale; constituents of trust; community pharmacist