Role ambiguity and role conflict and their influence on responsibility of clinical pharmacists in China

Background Due to the drug-centred tradition of Chinese hospital pharmacy and the lack of corresponding laws and regulations, Chinese clinical pharmacists may experience the problems of role ambiguity and role conflict. These problems may affect whether clinical pharmacists undertake their responsibilities, thus affecting the level of clinical pharmacy care. Objective To evaluate the level of Chinese clinical pharmacists’ role ambiguity and role conflict and to analyse their influence on the undertaking of responsibilities. Setting Research was conducted in 31 provinces (autonomous regions) and municipality directly under the Central Government in mainland China. Main outcome measure Chinese version of a role ambiguity and role conflict scale was used to measure clinical pharmacists’ role ambiguity and role conflict. A scale for clinical pharmacists’ responsibilities was established to measure whether clinical pharmacists undertake their responsibilities. Methods Subgroup analysis and logistic regression were employed to analyse the phenomenon of Chinese clinical pharmacists’ role ambiguity and role conflict and their influence on their fulfilment of responsibilities. Results Clinical pharmacists in China experience role ambiguity and role conflict. Clinical pharmacists in the eastern region, tertiary hospitals, and hospitals where clinical pharmacists training programs are available were less likely to experience role ambiguity and role conflict than those in the central and western regions, secondary hospitals, and hospitals where clinical pharmacists training programs are not available. Role ambiguity and role conflict have significant impacts on whether clinical pharmacists undertake certain responsibilities. Conclusion This study shows that clinical pharmacists in China experience problems with role ambiguity and role conflict and it will affect their fulfilment of their responsibilities. We propose that corresponding policies and measures should be taken to alleviate role ambiguity and role conflict and improve clinical pharmacy service.