Facets of pharmacists recommendation on over-the-counter market in Romania

Abstract

This study proposes to explore the valued aspects for persons who buy dietary supplemnets and whether pharmacists recommendation influence the buying decision and in what measure. The study is based on a initial qualitative research, followed by a quantitative research, both on pharmacists and consumers from the city of Iasi. The results differ to an extent from the findings in West European studies. Pharmacists recommendation is of subjective nature, influenced by the relation they have with the over-the-counter (OTC) producing company representative and by the trust they place in a brand or anither. From the viw of the customers, pharmacists recommendation has certain power in taking the decision to buy but it is not the most important aspect nor the only one taken into consideration. The reasearch identifies 6 important aspects for the customers when they buy OTC products and 4 aspects that the pahramacists take into account when recommending a producer od dietary supplements to the pacients.