Self-reported competence of Estonian community pharmacists in relation to herbal products: findings from a health-system in transition.
Summary of "Self-reported competence of Estonian community pharmacists in relation to herbal products: findings from a health-system in transition."
Recent health-system reforms in Estonia have resulted in 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. The objective of this study was to explore the self-reported competence 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%) community pharmacies in Estonia in February 2005. Responses were received from 114 pharmacists and six 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 information about herbal products' mode of action, administration, potential side-effects and interactions. There was an apparent mismatch between pharmacists' self-reported competence 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. Copyright (c) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Affiliation
Department of Pharmacy, University of Tartu, 1 Nooruse St, 50411 Tartu, Estonia.
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: Phytotherapy research : PTR
ISSN: 1099-1573
Pages:
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20734324
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ptr.3266
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
European Union
The collective designation of three organizations with common membership: the European Economic Community (Common Market), the European Coal and Steel Community, and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). It was known as the European Community until 1994. It is primarily an economic union with the principal objectives of free movement of goods, capital, and labor. Professional services, social, medical and paramedical, are subsumed under labor. The constituent countries are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. (The World Almanac and Book of Facts 1997, p842)
Drugs, Chinese Herbal
Chinese herbal or plant extracts which are used as drugs to treat diseases or promote general well-being. The concept does not include synthesized compounds manufactured in China.
Polygonum
A plant genus of the family POLYGONACEAE that is an ingredient of Shou-Wu-Pian, a Chinese herbal preparation (DRUGS, CHINESE HERBAL). The common name of black bindweed also refers to TAMUS or Fallopia (use POLYGONACEAE).
Medicine, Kampo
System of herbal medicine practiced in Japan by both herbalists and practitioners of modern medicine. Kampo originated in China and is based on Chinese herbal medicine (MEDICINE, CHINESE TRADITIONAL).
Clinical Competence
The capability to perform acceptably those duties directly related to patient care.
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