Citation

Olatunde S, Boon HS, Hirschkorn K, Welsh S, Bajcar J. Res. Social Adm. Pharm. 2010; 6(1): 63-69.

Affiliation

Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College Street, Room 635, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3M2, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.sapharm.2009.02.004

PMID

20188329

PMCID

PMC2923149

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Although many pharmacies sell natural health products (NHPs), there is no clear definition as to the roles and responsibilities (if any) of pharmacists with respect to these products. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore pharmacy and stakeholder leaders' perceptions of pharmacists' professional NHP roles and responsibilities. METHODS: Semi-structured key informant interviews were conducted with pharmacy leaders (n=17) and stakeholder (n=18) leaders representing consumers, complementary and alternative medicine practitioners, conventional health care practitioners, and industry across Canada. RESULTS: All participants believed a main NHP responsibility for pharmacists was in safety monitoring, although a one challenge identified in the interviews was pharmacists' general lack of NHP knowledge; however, stakeholder leaders did not expect pharmacists to be experts, but should have a basic level of knowledge about NHPs. CONCLUSION: Participants described pharmacists' professional roles and responsibilities for NHPs as similar to those for over-the-counter drugs; more awareness of existing NHP-related pharmacy policies is needed, and pharmacy owners/managers should provide additional training to ensure front-line pharmacists have appropriate knowledge of NHPs sold in the pharmacy.

Language: en