An online cross-sectional survey investigating community pharmacists’ information needs for evidence-based self-medication counselling

Abstract

Background Community pharmacists play an important role in healthcare. They are the only professional point of contact for all self-medication-related matters. Little research has been done regarding the information needs of pharmacists for evidence-based self-medication counselling. Aim To explore pharmacists’ information needs in 5 predefined areas of information needs: individual needs, quality needs, utilization needs, implication needs, and access needs. Setting Community pharmacies in Germany. Method After ethical approval, we conducted a mixed-methods study in form of an exploratory, semi-quantitative, cross-sectional online survey. Members of 3 different chambers of pharmacists were invited to participate anonymously in the survey and without any incentives after giving informed consent. Main outcome measure Quantitative outcome: Frequency of relevance / importance of items within predefined information needs areas, except for access needs. Qualitative outcome: Open-text responses concerning all information needs. Results Data from a total of 823 participants, who completed the survey, were analyzed. General and specific information such as dosage (74.2 % [611/823]) and when to refer to a physician (64.6 % [532/823]) as well as an over-the-counter-product’s effectiveness according to medical guidelines (71.4 % [588/823]) were rated as very important. Participants reported to prefer digital information sources (50.5 % [416/823] strongly agreed), especially in the form of an easily accessible database (61.6 % [507/823] strongly agreed) that contains regularly updated, manufacturer independent, critically appraised, concise information. Conclusion Community pharmacists expressed distinct information needs for evidence-based self-medication counselling. Further information on essential evidence-based pharmacy knowledge may be necessary to support the correct implementation.