Public wants more self care information from pharmacists
Pharmacists are under-used as an information source by the general public, according to a survey published on the Department
of Health’s website last week.
The survey was carried out by MORI Omnibus in August 2004 and January
2005 and involved face-to-face interviews with a representative sample
of 3,290 people in England. It found that 21 per cent of people specified
pharmacists as their preferred source of information but only 13 per
cent had consulted a pharmacist in the previous six months. Over three-quarters
agreed that if they had guidance and support from an NHS professional
they would be far more confident about taking care of their own health.
The survey report states: “The other sources where the public want
more self-care information from, compared with what they are getting,
are pharmacists and the internet. It seems that community health professionals
are likely to be key allies in supporting self care.” |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
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