|
|
Original Research Article
Pharmacists’ Perception of the Sale of Non-Clinically
Proven Health Supplements in Penang, Malaysia
Mohamed A Hassali1,
Fahad Saleem1, Tahir M Khan2,
Hisham Aljadhey3, Maryam Farooqui4
and Noman ul Haq1
1Discipline of Social and
Administrative Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia,
2School of Pharmaceutical
Science, Monash University, Bandar Sunway, Selangor
Darul Ehsan, Malaysia, 3College of
Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,
4Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Technology
MARA, Bertam, Penang, Malaysia.
*For correspondence:
Email:
fahaduob@gmail.com
Received: 23 May 2012
Revised
accepted: 9 March 2013
Tropical Journal of
Pharmaceutical Research, June 2013; 12(3): 433-438
http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/tjpr.v12i3.24
Abstract
Purpose: To explore community
pharmacists’ perception of the sale of non-clinically
proven health supplements and over-the-counter (OTC)
products available in Penang, Malaysia.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey
using a self-completed postal questionnaire was
conducted in July 2010 among 200 community pharmacists
practicing in Penang Island.
Results: Fifty six pharmacists
participated in the study (response rate, 28.0 %). A
total of 10.7 % respondents indicated that the sale of
non-clinically proven products result in high profit.
Only 25.0 % of the pharmacists believed that
non-clinically proven OTC products are effective, while
35.7 % thought that it is not ethical to sell these
products. A majority of the respondents (94.7 %) agreed
that manufacturers’ advertisement have a huge effect on
positive consumers’ behaviour towards such products.
Most respondents agreed that manufacturers of these
products claim that their products are effective (57.1
%) and have few or no side effects (60.7 %).
Conclusions:
Pharmacists who participated in the study have mixed
opinions on the efficacy and effectiveness of
non-clinically proven products. There is a need for
pharmacists to be well educated on the evidence-based
use of these products in order to be able to offer
appropriate advice to those who come to them to purchase
the items.
Keywords: Perception, Health
promotion, Urban poor, Health supplements. |
