Predictors of effective therapeutic relationships between pharmacists and patients with type 2 diabetes: Comparison between Arabic-speaking and Caucasian English-speaking patients

• Published in: Research in social and administrative pharmacy Vol. 14; no. 11; pp. 1064 - 1071
• Main Authors: Alzubaidi, H., Mc Namara, K., Versace, V.L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.11.2018
• Subjects: Adherence; Aged; Arabic-speaking; Arabs - statistics & numerical data; Communication Barriers; Community pharmacy; Community Pharmacy Services - organization & administration; Community Pharmacy Services - standards; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - drug therapy; European Continental Ancestry Group - statistics & numerical data; Female; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Medication Adherence - ethnology; Middle Aged; Patient-pharmacist relationship; Pharmacists - organization & administration; Pharmacists - standards; Professional-Patient Relations; Surveys and Questionnaires; Transients and Migrants - statistics & numerical data; Victoria; Victoria; Adherence; Diabetes; Arabic-speaking; Community pharmacy; Patient-pharmacist relationship
• ISSN: 1551-7411; 1934-8150
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2017.11.013

The benefits of pharmacist-led interventions in achieving desired patient outcomes have been well established. Effective patient–pharmacist relationships are required to provide high-quality pharmacy care. Limited information is available about how Arabic-speaking migrants with diabetes, in Australia, perceive patient-pharmacist relationship and how these perspectives differ from the mainstream society (represented by Caucasian English-speaking people). To examine and compare the patient–pharmacist relationship, medication underuse and adherence levels among Arabic-speaking and Caucasian English-speaking patients with type 2 diabetes. A 98-item survey incorporating several previously-validated measurements was completed by Arabic-speaking migrants (ASMs) and Caucasian English-speaking patients (ESPs) with type 2 diabetes. Participants were recruited from various healthcare settings in the Melbourne metropolitan area and rural Victoria, Australia. This survey-based, cross-sectional study was designed to explore patients' perceptions of the patient-pharmacist relationship. A descriptive analysis of responses was undertaken, and binary logistic regression was used to explore patient-pharmacist relationships. A total of 701 participants were recruited; 392 ASMs and 309 ESPs. Of ASMs, 88.3% were non-adherent to their prescribed medication, compared with 45.1% of ESPs. The degree of relationship with community pharmacists differed significantly between ASMs and ESPs. Compared with ASMs, significantly more ESPs reported that they have thought about consulting a pharmacist when they had health problems (P = 0.002). Compared with ESPs, significantly fewer ASMs reported always following pharmacist recommendations (32% versus 61.9% respectively). Arabic-speaking migrants had less-effective relationships with community pharmacists when having their prescriptions filled. Community pharmacists' expertise appeared to be underused. These minimal relationships represent missed opportunities to improve health outcomes. •The pharmacist-patient relationship is crucial for achieving desired patient outcomes.•This study is the first to compare Arabic-speaking migrants and English-speaking patients' viewpoints on the patient-pharmacist relationship.•Results show that pharmacist-patient relationship differs significantly between the two groups.•Findings yield new insights into the reasons and the consequences of the differences in the relationship with pharmacists.•Future initiatives should improve patient-pharmacist communication and engage ethnic minorities with pharmacy services.