Pharmacists continue to be one of the most trusted professionals in the United States, says Gallup’s annual survey.
Pharmacists are ranked in third place in 2018 in terms of honesty and ethical standards, according to Gallup’s report, Americans’ Rating on the Honesty and Ethical Standards of Professions, 2018 (Trends). Pharmacists regularly rank as the second most honest and ethical profession in Gallup's Poll. Since 2002, pharmacists ceded the second spot to medical doctors just three times, in 2003, 2017, and 2018.
Nurses are ranked in first place, with an 84% rating in honesty and ethics, followed by 67% for medical doctors and 66% for pharmacists. The three least-trusted professions include: members of Congress (8%), car salespeople (8%), and telemarketers (9%).
“It is no surprise that pharmacists again are rated by Americans for their honesty and ethical standards. A majority of Americans come into regular contact with pharmacists, and their high rating speaks to the high level of care provided by pharmacists, putting the patient’s needs first and foremost,” Douglas J. Scheckelhoff, MS, FASHP, senior vice president of practice advancement at ASHP, tells Drug Topics.
While pharmacists were ranked slightly higher in 2018 than in 2017, it is difficult to compare rankings from year-to-year, since Gallup rotates different occupations into the survey each year, Jeff Jones, senior editor with Gallup, tells Drug Topics. “I think it would be best to say [pharmacists are] in the second tier of professions, after nurses, and have been for many years,” Jones says.
Pharmacists’ ranking in Gallup’s annual poll has been stable the past five years, averaging 66%, Jones says.
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