The purpose of this study was to identify patient-side factors that facilitate their provision of information to pharmacists (Survey A) and identify questions to assess their willingness to provide information to pharmacies (Survey B). Two web-based surveys were conducted among individuals aged 50-79 years who regularly brought their prescriptions to pharmacies. Survey A was conducted in February 2020 with 540 respondents. Multiple regression analysis was conducted, with “patients’ provision of information to pharmacies” as the objective variable. Survey B was conducted in November 2020 with 126 respondents for each three patterns of questions regarding “patients’ provision of information to pharmacies.” The distribution of responses was compared. More than half of the respondents were willing to provide information to pharmacists on the contents of the initial questionnaire. In contrast, less than half of the respondents were willing to provide information about the physician’s explanation of drug treatment, history of the disease, concerns and consultations about medication, blood tests results, and unusual symptoms. Factors on the patients’ side that promoted the provision of information included having a family pharmacist, a sense of trust in the pharmacist, recognition as a medical professional, and understanding the pharmacist’s work. As an indicator to evaluate the increase in patients’ willingness to provide information, the questionnaire statement “I will actively tell the pharmacist about [　].” was found to be appropriate. Words such as a physician’s explanation of drug treatment, history of the disease were included in [　].

Objectives: At the pharmacy, information obtained from patients by pharmacists is often inadequate. To motivate patients to provide information, we explored factors influencing their willingness to provide information and evaluated changes in their intention through informing of pharmacists’ contribution to pharmacotherapy. Methods: Four videos regarding pharmacists’ contribution to pharmacotherapy were created. A total of 600 participants who regularly visit pharmacies were targeted. One hundred and fifty participants watched one of the four videos and answered questions about their willingness to provide information to pharmacists before and after watching the videos. Key findings: The positive factors influencing the willingness to provide information were trust in the pharmacist and knowing pharmacists’ contribution to pharmacotherapy. After watching any of the videos, the willingness to provide information increased (P<0.001). In addition, when the participants were divided into two groups based on whether or not they had already known about the video content, the willingness of the participants in both aware and unaware groups to provide information improved (P<0.001). The factors that improved willingness in participants with low willingness were an explanation from their family pharmacist and trust in the pharmacist. On the contrary, having diabetes was a restraining factor. Conclusion: The study revealed that publicizing pharmacists’ contribution to pharmacotherapy increases the patients’ willingness to provide information to the pharmacist, regardless of their original level of awareness of the contribution. Furthermore, patient-pharmacist relationships based on trust in the pharmacist were influential.

In order for pharmacists to be collaboratively involved with patients in pharmacotherapy, there is a need to improve patients’ understanding of pharmacists’ involvement in extended pharmacotherapy, i.e., their interpersonal work. This study explores the factors that affect patients’ perceptions of pharmacists’ interpersonal work. A survey on patients’ perceptions of pharmacists’ interpersonal work was conducted among 450 patients aged 20 years or older who visited a pharmacy. Logistic regression analysis was performed with low and high patient perceptions of pharmacists’ interpersonal work as the objective variables. Valid responses were obtained from 350 participants. More than half of the respondents did not understand the nature of the interpersonal work of pharmacists. Patients who were unaware of pharmacists checking for side effects were more prevalent than those who were unaware of other interpersonal work. Explanations from the family pharmacist (OR＝2.25, P＝0.033) and trust in the pharmacist (OR＝1.11, P＝0.001) had a positive influence on patients’ perceptions of the pharmacist’s interpersonal tasks. As pharmacy pharmacists are increasingly becoming more involved with patients’ drug treatment and to ensure safe drug treatment practices for patients, it is considered important for pharmacists to actively explain their involvement in drug treatment to patients. This will be conducive to building trusting relationships, and for pharmacists to fulfil their function as family pharmacists.