Pharmacists, nurses take top two spots in Gallup integrity survey

PRINCETON, N.J. — For the ninth consecutive year, pharmacists ranked in the top three of Gallup’s annual "Honesty and Ethics" survey, coming in just behind nurses, who took the lead.

Pharmacists ranked second to nurses and ahead of doctors, moving up one place from last year’s survey. Among respondents, 73% rated the honesty and ethical standards of pharmacists as “very high” or “high.”

“The Gallup survey reflects the unsurpassed value of community pharmacy in improving patient health and reducing healthcare costs across the board,” stated National Association of Chain Drug Stores president and CEO Steve Anderson, commenting on the Gallup survey results. “As the face of neighborhood health care, pharmacists are accessible healthcare providers, with nearly all Americans living within 5 miles of a community pharmacy."

“As the Gallup survey supports, pharmacists are highly trusted individuals. Pharmacists require a minimum of six years of professional education to receive their degree and license. They are highly qualified medical professionals, providing medication therapy management services. Through medication counseling, pharmacists work one-to-one with patients to help them understand why it’s important to take medications as prescribed, also known as medication adherence,” Anderson stated.

Americans gave nurses the highest honesty and ethical rating, with 84% rating the honesty and ethical standards as “very high” or “high.” Nurses consistently top the list, having done so each year since they were first included in 1999 — apart from 2001, when firefighters were included on a one-time basis to measure public support for them after their heroic actions on Sept. 11.

Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Nov. 28 to Dec. 1, 2011, with a random sample of 1,012 adults, ages 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.

To view the full survey results click here.