Pharmacists have key role in tackling men’s health problems
Pharmacists have an opportunity to offer advice to men purchasing
medicines |
Pharmacists may be the key to offering health and lifestyle advice to men when they are seeking over-the-counter remedies for conditions such as indigestion, a report published this week concludes.
However, pharmacists do not currently see themselves as able to offer
lifestyle advice, the authors of the report found. They are also uncomfortable
tackling sensitive issues such as weight and think that the public do
not always see them as appropriate people with whom to discuss lifestyle
issues.
“This would imply that there will be training and development implications
for effective development of this public health role,” the authors
argue.
Gopa Mitra, director of health policy and public affairs at the Proprietary
Association of Great Britain, commented: “For pharmacists, the
study clearly shows that men are lacking advice on diet and lifestyles.
Certainly in the area of indigestion, there is a clear opportunity for
pharmacists to meet the public health requirements of the new pharmacy
contract in offering diet and lifestyle advice when men are visiting
pharmacies to purchase over-the-counter remedies.”
The survey, commissioned by the Men’s Health Forum and supported
by the PAGB,
is available here |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
Acrobat
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