Society summary

Scottish pharmacies’ role in men’s health advice

Scotland’s community pharmacies are ideal sources of advice on all aspects of men’s health, says the latest topical paper published by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Scotland.

The paper — the 10th in an occasional series of briefings on current issues — was published to coincide with Men and Health Week 2001 (7–14 September), which is co-ordinated by Men’s Health Forum Scotland.

The paper draws attention to the specific men’s problems of impotence, testicular cancer and prostate disorders as well as major health problems shared by both sexes, such as heart disease and hypertension. After setting out statistics on the incidence of these diseases in men, the paper cites research by the Society which found that 56 per cent of men prefer to treat themselves rather than seek medical advice and that 24 per cent are likely to tolerate symptoms until they go away. The paper also examines the barriers that inhibit men from seeking health advice.

Scotland’s 1,150 community pharmacies are able to provide health advice with no appointment necessary, the paper says, and they are ideally placed to do so.

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