Self-reported competence of Estonian community pharmacists in relation to herbal products: findings from a health-system in transition

Daisy Volmer (1) , John Lilja (2) , David D Hamilton (3) , J Simon Bell (4) , Peep Veski (1)

1 Department of Pharmacy
2 Department of Pharmacy
3 Recruitment, Admissions and Participation Service
4 5Clinical Pharmacology and Geriatric Pharmacotherapy Unit, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences

Abstract Recent health system reforms in Estonia have included an increased emphasis on primary health care and evidence-based medicine. Community pharmacies are the primary source of herbal products, and pharmacists have an important role in ensuring the safe and effective use of herbal products. A study explored the self-reported competency of pharmacists and the self-reported provision of community pharmacy services in relation to herbal products. A survey instrument was mailed to a random sample of 154 (50%) of community pharmacies in Estonia in February 2005. Responses were received from 114 pharmacists and 6 assistant pharmacists (response rate 77.9%). Among the respondents, 64.1% self-evaluated their knowledge of herbal products as good or excellent. However, only 35.0% reported they experienced no problems in counselling about herbal products, while only 35.8% recognized the importance of continuing education. Pharmacists attached a high level of importance to providing of information about herbal products' mode of action, administration, potential side-effects and interactions. There was an apparent mismatch between pharmacists' self-reported competency and their self-reported provision of advice about herbal products. Health system reforms in Estonia may need to be accompanied by enhanced training for pharmacists to provide advice about the safe and appropriate use of herbal products.

Mots clés: Life Sciences

Daisy Volmer, John Lilja, David D Hamilton, J Simon Bell, Peep Veski. Self-reported competence of Estonian community pharmacists in relation to herbal products: findings from a health-system in transition. Phytotherapy Research, 2010, ⟨10.1002/ptr.3266⟩. ⟨hal-00599837⟩