This conclusion aligns with that reached by Hughes et al.[42] when they evaluated BGJ398 the level of pharmaceutical care provided by community pharmacists within 13 European countries using the Behavioral Pharmaceutical Care Scale of pharmaceutical care in community pharmacies. The relative lack of patient-care-related terms and the fact that ‘medicine’ and ‘dispense’ were the most frequently reported terms indicate that

medicines rather than the patients are the main current focus of pharmacists when they consider their role.[43] Rosenthal et al.[24] reported that pharmacists’ reluctance to become more involved in patient-centred care provision can be explained by certain passive pharmacists’ characteristics, such as not having enough confidence in themselves, fear of taking risks and waiting for physicians’ approval. The findings of the present study suggest that product-focused

practice still predominates within the pharmacy profession in both Alberta and Northern Ireland. This may be explained by the fact that the pharmacists’ mental model, which is an internal image on the way the pharmacy profession works which prevents the pharmacist from thinking or acting in a different way,[25] still links pharmacy profession to product-focused practice. While the findings of the present study helped to explore certain aspects of current pharmacy culture in Northern Ireland and Alberta, there is a need for further exploration into pharmacy culture. A better understanding of the current pharmacy culture will help to use improved progression strategy FK228 in vivo to move the pharmacy profession into patient-centredness. Pharmacy culture must align with the desired changes, if a transition in pharmacy practice to a more patient-centred approach is to take place.[27] Community pharmacists

in Northern Ireland provided more patient-centred responses when compared to community pharmacists in Alberta. This could be explained by the fact that community pharmacists in Northern Ireland are paid to provide certain patient-centred services, such as minor ailments management and 6-phosphogluconolactonase smoking cessation. This can lead to the conclusion that community pharmacists may offer patient-centred services if they were offered sustainable remuneration. The relative lack of patient-care-related terms suggests that when it comes to the pharmacists’ practice in both Alberta and Northern Ireland patient care is still not their first priority. The findings of the present study suggest that product-focused practice still predominates within the pharmacy profession in both Alberta and Northern Ireland. The Author(s) declare(s) that they have no conflicts of interest to disclose. This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profits sectors.