TY - JOUR
T1 - A national mailed survey exploring weight management services across Australian community pharmacies
AU - Fakih, Souhiela
AU - Marriott, Jennifer Lillian
AU - Hussainy, Safeera Yasmeen
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - This study investigated pharmacists and pharmacy assistants current weight management recommendations to consumers across Australian community pharmacies using a mailed questionnaire. Two questionnaires were developed, one for pharmacists and one for pharmacy assistants, each divided into five sections. One pharmacist and pharmacy assistant questionnaire were mailed in November 2011 to a systematic sample of 3000 pharmacies across Australia for one pharmacist and pharmacy assistant each to complete. A total of 537 pharmacist and 403 pharmacy assistant responses, from 880 different pharmacies, were received. Overall 94.5 (n=832/880) of associated pharmacies stocked weight loss products and 48.2 (n=424/880) offered a weight management program. Both pharmacists and pharmacy assistants felt that the development of pharmacy-specific educational resources and additional training would help improve their ability to provide weight management services. Australian pharmacists and pharmacy assistants currently appear to be providing weight management services to consumers; however, not all their recommendations are evidence based. The need for additional training for pharmacy staff in areas identified as lacking and the development of pharmacy weight management educational resources needs to be addressed.
AB - This study investigated pharmacists and pharmacy assistants current weight management recommendations to consumers across Australian community pharmacies using a mailed questionnaire. Two questionnaires were developed, one for pharmacists and one for pharmacy assistants, each divided into five sections. One pharmacist and pharmacy assistant questionnaire were mailed in November 2011 to a systematic sample of 3000 pharmacies across Australia for one pharmacist and pharmacy assistant each to complete. A total of 537 pharmacist and 403 pharmacy assistant responses, from 880 different pharmacies, were received. Overall 94.5 (n=832/880) of associated pharmacies stocked weight loss products and 48.2 (n=424/880) offered a weight management program. Both pharmacists and pharmacy assistants felt that the development of pharmacy-specific educational resources and additional training would help improve their ability to provide weight management services. Australian pharmacists and pharmacy assistants currently appear to be providing weight management services to consumers; however, not all their recommendations are evidence based. The need for additional training for pharmacy staff in areas identified as lacking and the development of pharmacy weight management educational resources needs to be addressed.
UR - http://www.publish.csiro.au.ezproxy.lib.monash.edu.au/?act=view_file&file_id=PY13118.pdf
U2 - 10.1071/PY13118
DO - 10.1071/PY13118
M3 - Article
SN - 1448-7527
VL - 21
SP - 197
EP - 204
JO - Australian Journal of Primary Health
JF - Australian Journal of Primary Health
IS - 2
ER -