Healthy Skepticism Library item: 15107
Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.
Publication type: Journal Article
Vitry A, Gilbert A, Mott K, Rao D, March G.
Provision of medicines information in Australian community pharmacies
Pharm World Sci 2009 Feb 20; epub ahead of print
http://www.springerlink.com/content/j6l166m703610185/?p=96bb08359f8e49c8a31a8d872de5ceea&pi=0
Abstract:
Objective
To assess the provision of consumer medicines information in Australian community pharmacies.
Method
Two methods were employed. One was an exit survey involving consumers just leaving a community
pharmacy (n = 554). A total of 42 pharmacies from 6 states were selected randomly. Another was a telephone survey conducted with people aged 15 and over (n = 2,005). The sample was stratified by region at the level of capital city, regional urban and rural with minimum quotas for each category.
Results
In the exit survey, 13 (6.4%) of the 208 respondents collecting a script received written instructions such as the Consumer Medicines Information (CMI), including 7 (15%) receiving their prescription for the first time and 6 (4%) who came for a subsequent supply. In the phone survey, 876 (46%)of the 1,576 respondents who ever get prescriptions or OTC medicines declared they never or rarely receive written information on how to use a medicine apart from what is on the bottle
or packaging.
Conclusion
The strategy of CMI distribution via pharmacies in Australia has failed to reach acceptable levels. Further strategies have to be implemented by the professional and consumer organisations to ensure consumers receive appropriate essential medicine information.
Impacts of findings on practice
• In Australia most consumers do currently not receive pharmacy printed CMIs despite substantial training and incentives for pharmacists to provide them.
• Regulatory authorities, pharmaceutical companies and pharmacy organisations should re-consider the CMI providing policy in consultation with the consumer organisations
agnes.vitry@unisa.edu.au
Keywords:
Australia, Community pharmacy, Consumer survey, Medicine information, Medicine policies, Standards of practice
