The need to enhance community pharmacy based nutrition guidance

Community Pharmacies are an important health destination and resource within the community and provide a setting to promote optimal nutrition and physical activity amongst mothers and infants. This study aimed to assess current guidance practices and continuing education (CE) needs of pharmacy personnel relevant to maternal and infant nutrition and physical activity. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed amongst a convenience sample of pharmacists (n = 50) and pharmacy staff (n = 56). Statistical analysis (descriptive and X2) of responses indicated that there was little overall difference in terms of knowledge and confidence between pharmacists and other pharmacy staff. A majority of participants reported seeing mothers with infants and pregnant women at least once per day. Over 85% of participants identified that it was important or very important for them to provide nutrition related information to relevant customers during the pregnancy/ infancy life stage but acknowledge a need for education and training. The most common factors, supportive of participation in CE included self motivation to improve and learn, opportunity for personal assessment of CE need and opportunities to apply training. Conversely, factors identified as barriers by a majority of participants included, available personal time, time available at work and a lack of relevant training. Gaps in knowledge and confidence provide evidence for supporting education and training in pharmacy. Nutrition practitioners should consider addressing barriers and enablers to CE participation including improving the availability of education opportunities for pharmacy staff. This project was supported by a grant from Health Promotion Queensland