Roles of Community Pharmacists’ in Selecting and Providing Weight Control Dietary Supplements: Case Study of the 10th Health Region

Abstract

Objective: To study pharmacists’ decision process and roles in the selection and services of weight control dietary supplements (WCDS) in type I modern drug stores located in the 10^th Health Region. Methods: This cross-sectional survey research was conducted in pharmacists or those with authority to select products for sale in the pharmacies. The instrument was a self-administered online questionnaire developed in the study to collect general information, product purchase decision and the role of pharmacists in providing WCDS during April-May 2021. Results: The response rate was 42.9%. 52.5% of the subjects had WCDS for sale. In the process of decision making for purchasing WCDS for sale, 45.3% of subjects 45.3% of the subjects learned product information from customer requests. 47.6% of the subjects searched for information before making a purchase decision from bloggers who reviewed product use on social media, and 65.6% placed importance on product safety. 40.6% of the samples did not take any further action after purchasing WCDS for sale in pharmacies, while 29.7% reviewed sales of these products. In terms of the role of pharmacists before the product selling, 34.4 percent of the subjects assessed the client's body mass index, 25.4% of the subjects provided knowledge on obesity and health risks such as diabetes, hypertension, and 13.1% assessed the appropriate use of dietary supplements for customers with comorbidities. After the product was sold, the subjects gave advice on lifestyle modification (51.6%), counseled for building motivation and advised clients on  product use for effectiveness and safety (30.2%) and 18.2% did not do any things. Conclusion: Community pharmacists played a role in selecting WCDS, as well as educating and following up with customers to increase safety and effectiveness. However, support or reinforcement from all sectors to encourage pharmacists in drugstores to perform more professional roles in this regard would be important mechanism in monitoring and creating safe use of WCDS in the communities.