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The role of psychological factors in patients' choices to see their general practitioner or pharmacist for minor conditions.

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Title: The role of psychological factors in patients' choices to see their general practitioner or pharmacist for minor conditions.
Authors: Prestwich, Andrew (AUTHOR), Gerrard, Emma (AUTHOR), Panniker, Kate (AUTHOR)
Source: Psychology & Health. Jun2026, Vol. 41 Issue 6, p783-802. 20p.
Subjects: Statistical correlation, Repeated measures design, Research funding, T-test (Statistics), Data analysis, Self-efficacy, Respect, General practitioners, Primary health care, Descriptive statistics, Pharmacists, Research, Analysis of variance, Statistics, Trust, Patient decision making, Case studies, Confidence intervals, Patients' attitudes, Medical referrals, Psychosocial factors
Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
Abstract: Objective: UK-based patients can consult with, and be treated by, pharmacists for various minor medical conditions. However, research needs to identify the psychological factors that influence patients' decisions to consult with a pharmacist over alternative treatment responses. The current study addressed this gap. Methods and measures: UK residents (N = 329) completed measures of respect and trust for general practitioners (GPs) and pharmacists, alongside other measures that could influence treatment choices. Participants then read vignettes describing symptoms of conjunctivitis, influenza, and contact dermatitis and were asked to choose how they would respond if they experienced those symptoms. Results: Participants were nearly twice as likely to choose to see their pharmacist than GP. Respect and trust of pharmacists were higher for those choosing to see their pharmacist over those selecting treatment alternatives. GPs were respected more than pharmacists, an effect mediated by greater perceived assertiveness and morality of GPs. However, seeing pharmacists was rated less hassle and participants reported greater self-efficacy for seeing them compared to GPs. Conclusion: Strategies that increase pharmacists' perceived assertiveness and morality could enhance respect and trust of pharmacists. Such changes could facilitate the current drive in the UK to utilize pharmacies more to minimise GP service demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Psychology & Health is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: The role of psychological factors in patients' choices to see their general practitioner or pharmacist for minor conditions.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Prestwich%2C+Andrew%22">Prestwich, Andrew</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gerrard%2C+Emma%22">Gerrard, Emma</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Panniker%2C+Kate%22">Panniker, Kate</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Psychology+%26+Health%22">Psychology & Health</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 41 Issue 6, p783-802. 20p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+Kingdom%22">United Kingdom</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Objective: UK-based patients can consult with, and be treated by, pharmacists for various minor medical conditions. However, research needs to identify the psychological factors that influence patients' decisions to consult with a pharmacist over alternative treatment responses. The current study addressed this gap. Methods and measures: UK residents (N = 329) completed measures of respect and trust for general practitioners (GPs) and pharmacists, alongside other measures that could influence treatment choices. Participants then read vignettes describing symptoms of conjunctivitis, influenza, and contact dermatitis and were asked to choose how they would respond if they experienced those symptoms. Results: Participants were nearly twice as likely to choose to see their pharmacist than GP. Respect and trust of pharmacists were higher for those choosing to see their pharmacist over those selecting treatment alternatives. GPs were respected more than pharmacists, an effect mediated by greater perceived assertiveness and morality of GPs. However, seeing pharmacists was rated less hassle and participants reported greater self-efficacy for seeing them compared to GPs. Conclusion: Strategies that increase pharmacists' perceived assertiveness and morality could enhance respect and trust of pharmacists. Such changes could facilitate the current drive in the UK to utilize pharmacies more to minimise GP service demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Psychology & Health is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=193623263
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/08870446.2025.2493885
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 20
        StartPage: 783
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Statistical correlation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Repeated measures design
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research funding
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: T-test (Statistics)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Self-efficacy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Respect
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: General practitioners
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Primary health care
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Descriptive statistics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Pharmacists
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Analysis of variance
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Statistics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Trust
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Patient decision making
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Case studies
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Confidence intervals
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Patients' attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Medical referrals
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychosocial factors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: United Kingdom
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: The role of psychological factors in patients' choices to see their general practitioner or pharmacist for minor conditions.
        Type: main
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            NameFull: Prestwich, Andrew
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            NameFull: Gerrard, Emma
      – PersonEntity:
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            NameFull: Panniker, Kate
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            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 41
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