Abstract
Community pharmacists are extremely accessible sources of professional healthcare advice. It has long been recognized that pharmacists are highly qualified but under-utilized. In recent years, a more patient-centered role for community pharmacists to facilitate the safe and effective use of medicines has been proposed. One area for which there is a considerable demand in primary care for advice and support is dermatology and some evidence suggests that many people with skin problems manage their condition through self-care. Pharmacists have the potential to facilitate effective self-care for patients with dermatological problems. Furthermore the chronic nature of many skin conditions emphasizes the need for medicine management support to improve outcomes for those with conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Nevertheless, little is known about the skin conditions encountered by pharmacists, their dermatological knowledge base or the extent to which they interact and support patients with long-term skin conditions. A literature review was conducted to better understand the possible role of pharmacists in dermatological care. The results revealed that pharmacist input into the self-care of skin problems is beneficial though their dermatological diagnostic skills need further development. Support for patients with long-term skin conditions appears useful but there is limited data on the outcomes associated with such interventions. In summary pharmacists could make a possibly valuable contribution to the care of patients with skin problems but the content and scope of this role requires further clarification.
Highlights
Skin problems in the UK affect a large number of people
While General Practitioner (GP) are considered as the “gatekeeper” to the National Health Service (NHS) the available evidence suggests that many patients with skin problems choose to manage their skin condition through self-care
The workload in pharmacies attributable to consultations for skin problems in the UK is largely unknown but potentially significant given the wide range of conditions which can be managed in pharmacies and the fact that retail data showing that 17% of all over-the-counter (OTC) sales are for skin care products
Summary
Skin problems in the UK affect a large number of people. Recently collated data suggest that that in 2006 nearly 24% of the population (approximately 13 million people) consulted their General Practitioner (GP) about a skin problem and skin conditions were the most common reason why patients consulted their GP with a new problem [1]. The workload in pharmacies attributable to consultations for skin problems in the UK is largely unknown but potentially significant given the wide range of conditions which can be managed in pharmacies (see Table 1) and the fact that retail data showing that 17% of all over-the-counter (OTC) sales are for skin care products. This is equivalent to the volume of sales for cough/cold remedies and slightly less than the largest category (23%) attributable to pain relief products [8]. This review provides an overview of the available evidence for the effectiveness of pharmacist interventions in the management of patients with skin problems
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