Attitudes of Ohio hospital pharmacy directors toward national voluntary pharmacy technician certification.

Abstract

Ohio pharmacy directors' attitudes about national voluntary pharmacy technician certification were surveyed. In May 1996 a questionnaire was mailed to all 224 hospitals in Ohio. The questionnaire contained 29 attitudinal statements constructed as forecasts of the effects of certification; pharmacy directors were asked to rate their level of agreement or disagreement with each statement using a 7-point Likert scale. The response rate was 61.4% (137 questionnaires returned). Respondents indicated modest agreement with 21 of 27 attitudinal statements and therefore had a generally positive view of certification. For example, they agreed that certification will improve technicians' knowledge, image, confidence, skills, and job satisfaction. They disagreed that certification will allow technicians to function independently, result in the replacement of pharmacist positions with technicians, or eliminate the need for on-the-job training of technicians. There were significant differences in scores between directors working at hospitals employing certified technicians and directors working at hospitals not employing certified technicians for only three statements. Overall, Ohio hospital pharmacy directors had positive attitudes about pharmacy technician certification.