The Impact of Bilingual Communities on the Effective Communication Process in Open-Circuit Pharmacies: A Quantitative Study to Overcome Language Barriers in Patient Care from Eastern Region of Romania.

Background: Effective pharmacist-patient communication is essential for modern pharmaceutical services, relying heavily on optimized communication strategies that are essential for ensuring treatment adherence and overcoming the unique challenges of patient care in multilingual regions. Purpose: This study investigates the perceptions, experiences, and strategies used by community pharmacists in Romania to overcome common communication barriers. Methods: The research employed an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study design, utilizing a self-administered online questionnaire. The data was collected through an anonymous online questionnaire (N=150) administered to patients in eastern Romania. Explicit digital informed consent was obtained. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, t-tests for independent samples, and Spearman correlation coefficient. Results: Results indicate the perception of significant barriers, notably differences in educational levels, the use of medical terminology, and time constraints. A negative and significant Spearman correlation ( Conclusion: The conclusions highlight an urgent need to integrate culturally and linguistically adapted communication training into the education of community pharmacists. Future research should focus on developing and evaluating pilot educational programs and interventions specifically tailored for bilingual communities.