Nutrition Support in UK Pharmacy Practice: Current Practices and Future Needs

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Practice
• Nutrition Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Pharmacy professionals play a role in patient health management.
• Nutrition is a critical component of managing non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
• Integrating nutrition care into pharmacy practice requires understanding current involvement, barriers, and needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the extent of pharmacy professionals' engagement in nutrition care.
• To identify the types of nutrition advice and services provided.
• To explore barriers, facilitators, and resource requirements for enhanced nutrition integration in pharmacy.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods cross-sectional survey was employed.
• Quantitative data on knowledge, attitudes, and practices were collected alongside qualitative thematic analysis of open-ended questions.
• The study surveyed 220 UK-based pharmacy professionals.

Main Results:

• Nutrition advice was frequently given for diabetes (68.4%), cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (64.1%), and supplements (49.3%).
• Knowledge gaps exist, particularly in sustainable diets and national guidelines, while perceived knowledge correlated with providing advice on major NCDs.
• Nutritional assessment practices were limited, with over 65% reporting a need for essential nutrition training and highlighting needs for resources and dietitian collaboration.

Conclusions:

• Pharmacy professionals are involved in nutrition support for NCDs, but consistency is lacking.
• Limited education, resources, and unclear referral pathways hinder comprehensive nutrition care delivery.
• Improved nutrition education, pharmacy-specific resources, and interprofessional collaboration are crucial for effective integrated nutrition support in primary care.