Pharmacist interventions in non-prescription medicine use

Abstract

Objectives: The aim was to investigate the factors that influence non-prescription medicines (NPMs) recommendation by community pharmacists and to compare products available in different countries. Method: A questionnaire was posted to all (217) managing community pharmacists in Malta and Gozo. Descriptive statistics were undertaken to obtain means (M) and frequencies (%), which were developed into cross-tabulations. Eight international regulatory authorities were contacted to provide a list of NPMs, which was then compiled and analysed. Key findings: A response rate of 91% was achieved. Demographics of community pharmacists participating were: mean age = 37 years (range 22–74 years), 69% female, 73% practiced in an independently owned pharmacy, 54% practiced > 10 years. Pharmacists were most likely to make non-prescription recommendations for vitamins and nutritional supplements (99%), weight-reducing aids (96%) and smoking cessation aids (91%). Pharmacists were asked to rate importance of possible influencing factors on a 5-point Likert scale with 5 being the most important. Pharmacists were influenced by: ‘positive feedback from patients’ (M = 4.42) and ‘scientific evidence’ (M = 4.41). Non-influential factors were ‘mark-up of product’ (M = 2.75) and ‘product claims’ (M = 2.67). Pharmacists in the UK have a larger selection of NPMs for vitamins, dieting agents and smoking cessation than Switzerland, the USA and Malta. Conclusion: The influential factors for the choice of the product were based on scientific evidence and the patient’s previous experience.