@article{ref1,
title="Roles and responsibilities of pharmacists with respect to natural health products: key informant interviews",
journal="Research in social and administrative pharmacy",
year="2010",
author="Olatunde, Shade and Boon, Heather S. and Hirschkorn, Kristine and Welsh, Sandy and Bajcar, Jana",
volume="6",
number="1",
pages="63-69",
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.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1551-7411",
doi="10.1016/j.sapharm.2009.02.004",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2009.02.004"
}