Seven in Ten (71%) Ontarians Believe That Pharmacists Could Play a Greater Role in Management of Their Health

Toronto, ON - Seven in ten (71%) Ontarians believe that pharmacists could play a greater role in the management of their health, with individuals from all walks of like being equally as likely to agree. In fact, if they knew that their pharmacist had the appropriate training, many Ontarians would rely on them for a wide variety of services that are currently provided by other health care professionals.

The poll, conducted by Ipsos Reid on behalf of the Ontario Pharmacists Association, has revealed that a majority of Ontarians would rely on their pharmacist for providing appropriate medication or advice for minor ailments (86%), adjusting medication format such as from pill to liquid (84%), authorizing prescription extensions where there are no existing refills (67%), administering immunizations and/or drugs through injection or inhalation for patient education or demonstration (64%), and for ordering laboratory tests (55%), if they knew their pharmacist had the appropriate training.

It appears that some are unclear of the current roles that pharmacists are allowed to and do play in the lives of Ontarians, considering that not all Ontarians think pharmacists are permitted to do the following: advise on allergic reactions of medication (94%), discuss medication dosing (94%), education on the use and care of medical devices (93%), give support on minor health issues (89%), blood pressure monitoring (74%), and support on managing one's disease (67%).

But when asked if they rely on their pharmacists for additional support services beyond drug dispensing and medication advice, many (71%) say they already rely on their pharmacist for extending/refilling prescriptions (71%), support on minor health issues (66%), and advice on managing their condition (36%).

These are the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf the Ontario Pharmacists Association from January 13 to 22, 2008. For the survey, a representative randomly selected sample of 800 adult Ontarians was interviewed by telephone. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within 1773.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult population of Ontario been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. These data were weighted to ensure that the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to Census data.

For more information on this news release, please contact:
Sean Simpson
Research Manager
Ipsos Reid
Public Affairs
(416) 572-4474
[email protected]

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Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader, the country's leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 600 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos Reid's marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos Reid offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.

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