Exploring stages of pharmacist-physician collaboration using the model of collaborative working relationship.

OBJECTIVE: To compare factors affecting pharmacist-physician collaboration across three groups of study participants with increasing collaboration using the model of collaborative working relationship (CWR).
METHODS: A random sample of 750 Iowa pharmacists were surveyed. The measures for CWR constructs used 5- and 7-point scales. Descriptive statistics of exchange characteristics such as relationship initiation, trustworthiness, and role specification were calculated for each tertile group. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc ANOVAs were used to compare exchange characteristics across groups. In addition, for each tertile group, a linear regression was conducted in which collaborative care was regressed over relationship initiation, trustworthiness, role specification, professional interaction, practice setting, and physician specialty.
RESULTS: The usable survey response rate was 33% (n = 239). Exchange characteristics increased from the first tertile group to the third tertile group. The regression model of CWR explained variation in collaborative care for each tertile group (range 23-76%). Trustworthiness and role specification were key factors affecting collaborative care. Role specification had a strong effect on collaborative care for the first tertile group. Internal medicine as a physician specialty was a significant predictor for collaborative care for the third tertile group.
CONCLUSION: The impact of predictors on collaborative care differed across three groups according to the tertiles of collaborative care. These findings support a multistage model of CWR. In addition, future studies of CWR can add other predictors for collaborative care.