Community pharmacists' recommendations for natural products for stress in Melbourne, Australia: a simulated patient study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Community pharmacists are often the first health professional approached to provide treatment for health issues, including the important mental health challenge, stress. Over-the-counter products for stress almost always are complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) and in Australia no protocol exists for their recommendation and sale in community pharmacies.

Objective

To assess the quality and relevance of community pharmacists' information gathering (questioning), counselling and product selection when interacting with customers requesting a CAM product for stress and consequently determine whether Australian pharmacy practice indicates the need for guidelines similar to those provided for 'pharmacy only' (S2) and 'pharmacist only' (S3) medicines.

Methods

SUBMITTER: Clayton K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7092712 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan-Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature