Practising pharmacists want more nutrition education

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Practice
• Nutrition Science
• Health Education

Background:

• Pharmacists are key healthcare professionals uniquely positioned to promote healthy lifestyles in Australia.
• There has been a lack of assessment regarding pharmacists' nutrition knowledge for over two decades.
• Understanding current nutrition knowledge and practices is crucial for enhancing community health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the current nutrition knowledge and associated practices of pharmacists in Australia.
• To identify gaps in pharmacists' nutrition knowledge.
• To develop and evaluate a targeted educational intervention to address these identified gaps.

Main Methods:

• A validated General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire was adapted and distributed to pharmacists.
• Data were collected from 258 pharmacists via social and professional media.
• A short nutrition education course was developed and its effectiveness assessed in final-year pharmacy students.

Main Results:

• Pharmacists demonstrated variable nutrition knowledge (mean score 89.9/121), with inconsistent provision of nutrition education.
• A significant majority of pharmacists recognized their role in disease reduction but felt their knowledge required improvement.
• The short course significantly improved knowledge (median 14.7% increase) and was well-received, with sustained knowledge retention.

Conclusions:

• Pharmacists' nutrition knowledge and practical application of this knowledge are inconsistent.
• Targeted, short educational interventions can effectively enhance pharmacists' nutrition knowledge.
• Improved nutrition knowledge is likely to translate into enhanced patient counselling and support for positive lifestyle changes.