Introduction: Community orientation is an important indictor in assessment of the functions of a health system and implementing this in pharmaceutical care, needs the roles and functions of pharmacists to be defined apparently. Augmented the professional relationships of the pharmacists and executing the community oriented principles, would lead in improved health care delivery.

Methods: In a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study, 480 physicians and pharmacists practicing inside the territory of Isfahan were selected. A self administered attitude assessment questionnaire was designed and its validity and reliability were calculated and improved in the pre-pilot and pilot stages. An amount of 0.8 was calculated for the Cronbach’s α, as a measure of reliability. Data entry and analysis was done through SPSS software (version 10). Student t-test, Chi-square and ANOVA were employed for data analysis. Factor analysis and Eigen value measurement were used for more complex data analysis and interpretation. The final questionnaire was validated and corrected as 35-item one, with defined validity and reliability.

Results: After deleting 13 items from the preliminary questionnaire, the Cronbach’s α improved to 0.8. The 2 professions had significantly different views regarding educational curricula in medicine and pharmacy for the related issue as well as, the community oriented pharmacy. Also, the 2 groups agreed on the revision of the role of pharmacists to improve the profession in practice.

Discussion: Most physicians and pharmacists agree that pharmacist should be able to handle their professional role in practice also, they should deliver the pharmaceutical care in a community oriented setting. More targeted education and curricular revision can help reaching the goal.

Hakim Research Journal  2006 8(4) 26-36.