The role of psychological factors in patients' choices to see their general practitioner or pharmacist for minor conditions.

IF 2.4 3区心理学 Q2 PSYCHOLOGY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Psychology & Health Pub Date : 2025-04-24 DOI:10.1080/08870446.2025.2493885

Andrew Prestwich, Emma Gerrard, Kate Panniker

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective: UK-based patients can consult with, and be treated by, pharmacists for various minor medical conditions. However, research needs to identify the psychological factors that influence patients' decisions to consult with a pharmacist over alternative treatment responses. The current study addressed this gap.

Methods and measures: UK residents (N = 329) completed measures of respect and trust for general practitioners (GPs) and pharmacists, alongside other measures that could influence treatment choices. Participants then read vignettes describing symptoms of conjunctivitis, influenza, and contact dermatitis and were asked to choose how they would respond if they experienced those symptoms.

Results: Participants were nearly twice as likely to choose to see their pharmacist than GP. Respect and trust of pharmacists were higher for those choosing to see their pharmacist over those selecting treatment alternatives. GPs were respected more than pharmacists, an effect mediated by greater perceived assertiveness and morality of GPs. However, seeing pharmacists was rated less hassle and participants reported greater self-efficacy for seeing them compared to GPs.

Conclusion: Strategies that increase pharmacists' perceived assertiveness and morality could enhance respect and trust of pharmacists. Such changes could facilitate the current drive in the UK to utilize pharmacies more to minimise GP service demand.

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心理因素在患者选择看他们的全科医生或药剂师为次要条件的作用。

目的：在英国的病人可以咨询，并由药剂师治疗各种轻微的医疗条件。然而，研究需要确定心理因素，影响患者决定咨询药剂师替代治疗反应。目前的研究解决了这一差距。方法和措施：英国居民（N = 329）完成了对全科医生（gp）和药剂师的尊重和信任措施，以及其他可能影响治疗选择的措施。然后，参与者阅读描述结膜炎、流感和接触性皮炎症状的小短文，并被要求选择如果他们经历了这些症状，他们会如何反应。结果：参与者选择看药剂师的可能性几乎是全科医生的两倍。与选择其他治疗方案的患者相比，选择看药剂师的患者对药剂师的尊重和信任更高。全科医生比药剂师更受尊重，这种影响是由全科医生更强的自信和道德所介导的。然而，与全科医生相比，看药剂师被认为不那么麻烦，参与者报告说，看药剂师的自我效能更高。结论：提高药师自信感和道德感的策略可以增强药师对其的尊重和信任。这样的变化可能会促进英国目前更多地利用药房来减少全科医生服务需求的动力。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Psychology & Health Multiple-

CiteScore

7.30

自引率

3.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： Psychology & Health promotes the study and application of psychological approaches to health and illness. The contents include work on psychological aspects of physical illness, treatment processes and recovery; psychosocial factors in the aetiology of physical illnesses; health attitudes and behaviour, including prevention; the individual-health care system interface particularly communication and psychologically-based interventions. The journal publishes original research, and accepts not only papers describing rigorous empirical work, including meta-analyses, but also those outlining new psychological approaches and interventions in health-related fields.