Int J Pharm Pract 1997;5:39-45

Pharmacy Practice Research Group, School of Pharmacy, The Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland BT9 7BL
C. Rosaleen McCallion, PhD, MPSNI, post-doctoral research fellow in pharmacy practice
Eileen M. Scott, PhD, MPSNI, senior lecturer in pharmacy
Marie Doherty BSc, preregistration student

Correspondence: Dr Scott

Original Papers

Infant weaning and community pharmacy - the pharmacist's perspective

C. ROSALEEN McCALLION, EILEEN M. SCOTT and MARIE DOHERTY

Community pharmacists' awareness of the COMA report on "Weaning and the weaning diet" and their knowledge of its recommendations was assessed in a questionnaire distributed to all (n=81) community pharmacists in the Western Health and Social Services Board in Northern Ireland. Sources of information and adequacy of training on childhood nutritional issues were determined. A knowledge score was computed for each pharmacist depending on their responses to questions based on key issues in the COMA report. Completed questionnaires were returned by 48 pharmacists (59 per cent). The COMA report had been read by 14.5 per cent of respondents while 12.5 per cent knew of its recommendations. Others had heard of it but not read it (52 per cent) or had never heard of it (21 per cent). The mean knowledge score was 66 per cent (+/-17.5). Scores ranged from 18 per cent to 90 per cent, indicating wide variability in pharmacists' knowledge of key recommendations for weaning. Only 29 per cent of pharmacists felt that they were adequately trained to give advice on weaning; 50 per cent felt that they did not have sufficient knowledge and 21 per cent were unsure. Pharmacists indicated that, on average, parents approached them weekly about a weaning topic, which emphasises the need for them to be well informed about current weaning recommendations.