Physicians’ perceptions of collaboration with community pharmacists in Jordan: a cross-sectional survey

Abstract Introduction Collaboration between physicians and community pharmacists (CPs) is essential for delivering high-quality patient care.1 Nevertheless, achieving effective collaborative practice remains challenging.1 Understanding physicians’ attitudes and barriers to collaboration with CPs is therefore critical to optimising healthcare delivery. However, evidence on physician–CP collaboration in Jordan remains limited, and no studies have examined physicians’ perspectives to date. Aim To investigate physicians’ experiences, views, and attitudes toward collaboration with CPs, and its impact on patient care. Methods A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 380 physicians in Amman, Jordan, between January and March 2025 using convenience sampling method. Eligible participants were licensed physicians registered with the Jordan Medical Association and practising in either public or private healthcare facilities in Amman. Participants completed either an online or paper-based questionnaire after providing informed consent. The questionnaire was developed by the research team members following an extensive literature review. The questionnaire comprised four sections: (A) demographic information; (B) extent of collaboration with CPs; (C) physicians’ attitudes toward collaboration with CPs assessed using an adapted version of the Attitudes Towards Collaboration Instrument for general practitioners (ATCI-GP);2 and (D) physicians’ views on the impact of collaboration on patient care. Descriptive analyses were conducted using SPSS v28 and responses to open-ended questions were analysed thematically. Results A total of 209 physicians participated (55.0%). The majority were male (84.2%, n = 176), and over half were under 40 years of age (52.6%, n = 110). Most participants reported some level of collaborative practice, with 47.4% (n = 99) indicating they had sometimes collaborated with CPs and a further 26.3% (n = 55) reporting frequent collaboration. More than half reported sometimes lacking time to return CPs’ calls (51.7%, n = 108), and 54.5% (n = 114) noted that direct communication methods were only sometimes available. Most physicians expressed positive attitudes toward collaboration with CPs, with seven out of 13 statements showing agreement rates above 75%, notably regarding open communication (88.0%, n = 184), mutual respect (87.6%, n = 183), and shared goals in patient care (81.3%, n = 170). However, neutral attitudes were reported regarding trust in CPs’ decisions (42.1%, n = 88), therapeutic expertise (46.9%, n = 98), and meeting professional expectations (33.0%, n = 69). Despite the varying levels of current collaboration with CPs, nearly all physicians agreed/strongly agreed that further collaboration with CPs will have a positive impact on patient outcomes (98.1%, n = 205) and will help to alleviate pressure on the healthcare system (95.7%, n = 200). Thematic analysis of open comments revealed that physicians recommended enhancing collaboration with CPs by increasing mutual role awareness through regular meetings. Conclusion This study has revealed that the majority of physicians had positive views regarding collaboration with CPs and its impact on care. Positive attitudes were also evident, particularly in areas such as communication, mutual respect, and shared goals with CPs. However, neutral attitudes toward CPs’ expertise and decision-making reflect uncertainty about CPs’ clinical roles, highlighting the need for trust-building and role clarification. While the sample covered diverse healthcare settings, the focus on Amman may limit generalisability to other regions of Jordan. Exploring CPs’ views of collaboration with physicians is required to corroborate study findings.