Journal of Public Health Advance Access originally published online on May 3, 2005
Journal of Public Health 2005 27(3):254-262; doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdi032
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Use of community pharmacies: a population-based survey
Helen Boardman
Martyn Lewis
Peter Croft
Helen Boardman, Research Assistant, Martyn Lewis, Lecturer in Statistics, Peter Croft, Professor of Primary Care Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, North Staffordshire Health, Heron House, 120 Grove Road, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 4LX.
Paul Trinder
Giri Rajaratnam
Paul Trinder, Public Health Epidemiologist, Giri Rajaratnam, Director of Public Health, North Stoke and South Stoke Primary Care Trusts, Department of Public Health, North Staffordshire Health, Heron House, 120 Grove Road, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 4LX.
Address correspondence to Dr Helen Boardman, Division of Primary Care, 13th Floor, Tower Building, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD. E-mail: helen.boardman{at}nottingham.ac.uk
Background Community pharmacies are widely used in the UK, but the services they provide are changing, with pharmacists expected to take on wider roles and responsibilities. The impact of such changes will partly depend on who uses pharmacies and their illnesses.
Methods This was a cross-sectional survey of a stratified random sample of 10 000 adults aged 35 years plus.
Results In the previous month, 59 per cent of respondents had collected a prescription medicine and 40 per cent had purchased an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine from a pharmacy, whereas only 12 per cent had asked for advice. Women were more likely to have obtained medicine or asked for advice (76 per cent), but nearly two-thirds of men had done so (63 per cent). Poor self-rated health was the key factor in obtaining medicine, both on prescription and OTC. Purchasers of OTC medicine were more likely to be younger and from higher socio-economic classes, whereas those who collected prescription medicine were more likely to be older, feel at risk of vascular health problems and non-smokers. Medicines to treat cold and flu symptoms were the most frequently reported purchase type. Only a small number of respondents who asked for advice had not also obtained medicine. Respondents who asked for advice were more likely to have asked about a specific medicine or illness than to have asked for general health advice.
Conclusion Whilst those with poorer health are more likely to visit, a wide range of ages and social classes visit pharmacies each month. This provides an opportunity for public health initiatives to be delivered in pharmacies.
Keywords: community pharmacies, prescription medicines, OTC medicines, advice