Why people seek advice from community pharmacies about skin problems

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Pharmacy Practice
• Patient Behavior

Background:

• Undiagnosed skin problems represent a common reason for patients to seek healthcare advice.
• Pharmacies serve as accessible points for primary healthcare, including advice on minor ailments.
• Understanding patient motivations for choosing pharmacy care is crucial for optimizing healthcare delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the primary reasons driving patients to seek pharmacy advice for undiagnosed skin conditions.
• To explore patient perceptions of pharmacy services for dermatological complaints.

Main Methods:

• Conducted semi-structured telephone interviews with 25 patients seeking pharmacy advice for undiagnosed skin issues.
• Explored patient decision-making factors, trust in pharmacists, and satisfaction with care received.

Main Results:

• Key drivers for pharmacy use included convenience, perceived need for triage to general practitioner (GP) care, GP inaccessibility, and the condition's perceived minor nature.
• Patients expressed high trust in pharmacists, with few concerns raised (e.g., privacy, misdiagnosis).
• Overwhelmingly positive experiences led to a high likelihood of re-visiting pharmacies for future skin concerns.

Conclusions:

• Patients utilize pharmacies for undiagnosed skin problems due to accessible professional advice, trust, and familiarity.
• Perceived low severity of skin conditions and difficulties accessing general practitioner (GP) services are significant factors.
• Pharmacy-based care for undiagnosed skin conditions is generally well-received and valued by patients.