Pharmacists' perceptions of children and families as medicine consumers

As a preliminary step towards understanding and improving communications between children and their medical providers, a survey was constructed to examine pharmacists' perceptions of children and families. All 341 pharmacists currently licensed by the State of Wyoming with in-state addresses were sent the survey. Following two mailings, 195 (57%) responded, providing information about (1) the frequency and nature of pharmacists' interactions with children and families, (2) pharmacists' beliefs about children's capacities to have a responsible role in their own medication, and (3) pharmacists' training and experience with children and families. Results provided the first description of pharmacists' perceptions of children and families as medicine consumers. Commonalities and individual differences among pharmacists in communication beliefs and practices were discussed in terms of correspondence to other research on ethnotheories and implications for improving communications between health professionals and families.