In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the perception and attitudes of pharmacists, a group of profession, which is accepted to have a high level of social responsibility about social responsibility. The study was performed on 144 pharmacists who came to Samsun Field Medicine School and Training Center Commandership for the basic course of reserve officership in December 2008. Survey method was used to measure the social responsibility perceptions of the pharmacists. Of the 144 questionnaires distributed, 142 (98.6%) turned back. The most accepted (93.7%) expression by the pharmacists through 14 positive items in the social responsibility scale was “Every institution can fulfill social responsibility by its means”, while the least accepted (26.1%) expression by them through the same items was “Population would demand environment friendly products at the cost of paying more expenses and remising comfort”. The most accepted (41.5%) expression by the pharmacists through 14 negative items in the social responsibility scale was “The moral values of population do not execute any obligation for managements whose priorities are profit”, whereas the least accepted (2.1%) expression by them through these negative items was ”Managements should fulfill social responsibility only for their benefits”. Pharmacy is an occupation which holds a high sense of social responsibility. It is suggested that the findings of this study reveal significant implications in understanding the social responsibilities of pharmacists who are important service providers in health sector.
Keywords: Pharmacist, pharmacy, social responsibility
