Pharmacists and Primary Care: Some Research Findings and Recommendations

To achieve effective primary care we need to take into accountlay perspectives on services. This study investigated a sampleof 54 mothers with at least one child under five years old toelucidate their approaches to minor illnesses in their childrenand their use of pharmacists. The use of the pharmacist andof proprietary medicines were found to be important elementsin self-care, sometimes replacing general practitioner consultations.However, the mothers held differing opinions about how to dealwith children's symptoms and who to contact for help. This varietyneeds to be taken into account when recommending changes inthe provision of primary care for this group, especially concerningthe role of the pharmacist.