TORONTO — In Canada, pharmacists are at the top of the list of the most trusted professions, according to a survey by Ipsos Reid.
The public opinion and market research firm said this week that nearly eight in 10 Canadians (78%) say they trust pharmacists, scoring them a 5, 6, or 7 on a trust scale of 1 to 7.
It was the second straight year that pharmacists finished first in the online poll, which surveyed more than 1,000 Canadians in mid-December.
In fact, the top five most-trusted professions for 2011 were the same as in 2010. After pharmacists, respondents rated doctors (75%), Canadian soldiers (74%), airline pilots (73%) and teachers (65%) high on the trust scale.
"We already know how many people rely on their community pharmacist. This poll confirms that patients trust their pharmacist to provide the expert advice and guidance needed to help them manage their health," Marnie Mitchell, chief executive officer of the BC Pharmacy Association (British Columbia), said in a statement.
"Recent years have seen pharmacy evolve in a way that has had a real impact on patients," Mitchell added. "From providing advice on managing medications to giving flu shots and renewing prescriptions, patients are finding that their pharmacist plays a crucial role in their health and the health of their family. This is one of the reasons why pharmacists continue to be the most trusted profession."
Overall, the Ipsos Reid poll examined 26 professions. Among the bottom-five professions on the trust scale were: car salesmen (cited by 6% as trustworthy), national politicians (10%), union leaders (16%), municipal politicians (17%) and CEOs (19%).
