Pharmacist-Physician Collaboration in Poland: A Survey of Attitudes and Barriers to Interprofessional Practice

Background: Poland's aging population and growing number of people with chronic diseases highlight the urgent need for better pharmaceutical care services, particularly medication reviews. While collaboration between pharmacists and physicians is crucial for effective medication management, these professionals currently work in isolation in Poland. Their communication is largely limited to administrative tasks like fixing prescription errors, rather than working together on comprehensive patient care.

 

Approach: Pharmacists and primary care physicians (PCPs) completed two self-administered online surveys. Data from responses submitted between September 2024 and February 2025 were analysed. The questionnaire examined factors influencing collaboration between physicians and pharmacists, as well as perspectives on expanding pharmacists' involvement in patient care within Poland. Participants rated their attitudes toward pharmacist-physician collaboration using a five-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).

 

Results: 305 pharmacists’ and 118 PCPs’ responses were analysed. Pharmacists consistently showed more optimism about their role in patient care than physicians. The majority of pharmacists (94.4%) believed medication reviews would improve patient outcomes, compared to 80.5% of physicians. This confidence gap was even more pronounced regarding pharmacists' ability to support treatment modifications—85.2% of pharmacists felt their knowledge could help physicians adjust patient medications, while only 50.8% of PCPs shared this view.

 

 Notably, the two groups differed even on fundamental aspects of collaboration. While 93.4% of pharmacists agreed they share a common goal with physicians in ensuring appropriate patient care, only 79.9% of physicians felt the same way. Similarly, pharmacists were more likely than physicians to believe their involvement would improve patient adherence to treatment (94.4% vs. 72.0%).

 

Regarding medication safety—such as identifying drug interactions, side effects, and contraindications—86.9% of pharmacists viewed this as a significant part of their responsibility, compared to 67.8% of physicians.

 

Implications: These findings reveal a significant perception gap between pharmacists and physicians regarding collaborative patient care, with pharmacists showing consistently greater confidence in their clinical contributions than physicians acknowledge. This disconnect suggests that expanding pharmacist roles in Poland will require more than policy changes alone - successful implementation will depend on building mutual trust and demonstrating tangible benefits of collaboration. Interprofessional education initiatives and pilot programs showcasing effective pharmacist-physician partnerships may be essential to bridge this gap and improve patient outcomes.