The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7196 p597-604
4 May 2002

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Pharmacists best at treating head lice

Ignorance among community health professionals of how to manage head lice is hampering control of the problem.

This lack of knowledge is worst among general practitioners and practice nurses, although awareness is higher among community pharmacists.

Researchers at South Staffordshire Health Authority surveyed primary health care staff, health visitors, school nurses and community pharmacists about their knowledge of head lice treatments 18 months after local guidance had been issued by the health authority.

They found that although 76 per cent of respondents to the survey claimed to refer to the guidance regularly, there were some gaps in knowledge. Primary health care staff were more likely to say that they had no knowledge of how to treat head lice than were community pharmacists, say the researchers.
— Contributed.