Community pharmacy's role in promoting healthy behaviours

Many have commented on the potential of community pharmacy as a health promotion setting, due to accessibility, high level of use, and the respect afforded to pharmacists. Community pharmacy could be a setting through which to address risk and protective health behaviours relevant to Australia s National Health Priority Areas. However, apart from some studies on smoking cessation, there is scant evidence on its involvement in other health behaviours. This paper discusses how to increase research and interventions of healthy behaviours in community pharmacy. This includes placing community pharmacy s role within a broader health promotion context, expanding community expectations of pharmacists and addressing barriers to performing a health promotion role.