Pfizer study reveals shortfall in public understanding of pharmacies

Pfizer has announced the results of a new study revealing a shortfall in the British public's understanding of pharmacy services.

The 1,500 patient survey revealed that more than half of people are unaware that pharmacists offer healthy living advice, while one-third do not realise that pharmacists can review their medicines, reports Chemist and Druggist.

Moreover, 45 percent of patients said they did not know pharmacies provide smoking cessation advice, though 84 percent knew could go to their pharmacy for information on prescription medicines and 89 percent realised they could seek guidance on over–the-counter medicines.

Professor Rob Horne at the UCL School of Pharmacy, who developed the survey, said this shows how important it is to "ensure that people are getting the best out of their medicines is to encourage honest and open communication between the public and their healthcare professionals".

This comes as part of a Pfizer-backed medicines optimisation public awareness campaign, which launched last week and is supported by the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, the National Pharmacy Association, Pharmacy Voice and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.