Women tackle tricky pharmacy situations more often
Women pharmacists are more likely to intervene than
men when they suspect a customer is misusing over-the-counter (OTC) medicines,
a study suggests. They are also more likely to warn other pharmacists
about a potential problem than their male colleagues.
These were the findings of Dr Lynn MacFadyen, Centre
for Social Marketing, University of Strathclyde, and colleagues, who conducted
a postal survey of 110 pharmacies in an area of west central Scotland.
The survey was designed to assess the extent to which OTC medicines are
misused and to examine pharmacists’ response to the problem.
Of the 88 pharmacists who responded to the survey,
all had experience of OTC medicines misuse. The researchers note, however,
that the definition of misuse is equivocal: “Some pharmacists interpret
the prolonged use of sleeping preparations as problematic, while others
believe it is important for improving quality of life.”
A total of 46 OTC products were reported to be the
subject of misuse, including sleeping preparations, laxatives, analgesics
and cough linctuses. The researchers comment that, on the whole, the products
had not previously been prescription-only medicines.
Of all respondents, 27 per cent reported that they
always intervened where misuse was suspected. However, male pharmacists
were less likely to intervene — 19 per cent of male respondents always
intervened compared with 33 per cent of female respondents. Male pharmacists
were also less likely to offer advice in difficult situations, for example,
if the customer was known to have an eating disorder.
The survey revealed that pharmacists want support
to deal with the problem of OTC medicines misuse and that they are interested
in developing early warning systems to warn other pharmacists of suspected
cases of misuse. The researchers conclude that misuse of OTC medicines
is perceived to be a widespread but small-scale problem, and that nationally
recognised guidelines on how pharmacists should deal with the problem
are needed (The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health
2001;121:185).
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