Abstract
Thisstudyinvestigatedpharmacists'andpharmacyassistants'currentweightmanagementrecommendationsto consumersacrossAustraliancommunitypharmaciesusingamailedquestionnaire.Twoquestionnairesweredeveloped,one for pharmacists and one for pharmacy assistants, each divided into five sections. One pharmacist and pharmacy assistant questionnaireweremailedinNovember2011toasystematicsampleof3000pharmaciesacrossAustraliaforonepharmacist andpharmacyassistanteachtocomplete.Atotalof537pharmacistand403pharmacyassistantresponses,from880different pharmacies, were received. Overall 94.5% (n=832/880) of associated pharmacies stocked weight loss products and 48.2% (n=424/880)offeredaweightmanagementprogram.Bothpharmacistsandpharmacyassistantsfeltthatthedevelopmentof pharmacy-specific educational resources and additional training would help improve their ability to provide weight managementservices.Australianpharmacistsandpharmacyassistantscurrentlyappeartobeprovidingweightmanagement services to consumers; however, not all their recommendations are evidence based. The need for additional training for pharmacy staff in areas identified as lacking and the development of pharmacy weight management educational resources needs to be addressed.
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