Roles and responsibilities of pharmacists with respect to natural health products: Key informant interviews

Olatunde, Shade; Boon, Heather; Hirschkorn, Kristine; Welsh, Sandy; Bajcar, Jana

doi:10.1016/j.sapharm.2009.02.004

« Previous Next »Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy
Volume 6, Issue 1 , Pages 63-69, March 2010

Roles and responsibilities of pharmacists with respect to natural health products: Key informant interviews

Shade Olatunde, M.Sc.
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College Street, Room 635, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3M2, Canada
Heather Boon, Ph.D.
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College Street, Room 635, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3M2, Canada
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 416 946 5859; fax: +1 416 978 1833.
Kristine Hirschkorn, Ph.D.
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College Street, Room 635, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3M2, Canada
Sandy Welsh, Ph.D.
- Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Jana Bajcar, M.Sc.Phm., Ed.D.
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College Street, Room 635, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3M2, Canada
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

published online 30 July 2009.

Abstract

Background

Although 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.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to explore pharmacy and stakeholder leaders' perceptions of pharmacists' professional NHP roles and responsibilities.

Methods

Semi-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.

Results

All 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.

Conclusion

Participants 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.

Keywords: Natural health products, Pharmacists, Professional roles and responsibilities