Roles and responsibilities of pharmacists with respect to natural health products: Key informant interviews |
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Authors: | Shade Olatunde Heather Boon Kristine Hirschkorn Sandy Welsh Jana Bajcar |
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Institution: | 1. Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College Street, Room 635, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3M2, Canada;2. Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;3. Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;1. Department of Virology, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland;2. Department of Transplantation and Liver Surgery Clinic, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland |
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Abstract: | BackgroundAlthough 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.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to explore pharmacy and stakeholder leaders' perceptions of pharmacists' professional NHP roles and responsibilities.MethodsSemi-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.ResultsAll 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.ConclusionParticipants 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. |
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