Defining and supporting a professional role for pharmacists associated with traditional and complementary medicines: a cross-country survey of pharmacists

Introduction: An estimated 80% of the world's population use traditional and complementary medicine (T & CM) products as part of their healthcare, with many accessed through pharmacy. This cross-cultural study posed a set of professional practice responsibilities and actions to pharmacists related to T & CM products, with a view toward developing consensus, safeguarding, and promoting the health of the public.Methods: Data were collected from 2,810 pharmacists across nine countries during 2022 via a cross-sectional online survey reported in accordance with the guidelines of STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) and the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys (CHERRIES).Results: Of the 2,810 participants from nine countries, 2,341 completed all sections of the survey. Of these, most agreed (69%) that T & CM product use was common in the community they served, but most did not have adequate training to support consumer needs. Over 75% acknowledged that there were known and unknown safety risks associated with T & CM use. Of 18 professional responsibilities posed, 92% agreed that pharmacists should be able to inform consumers about potential risks, including T & CM side effects and drug-herb interactions. The provision of accurate scientific information on the effectiveness of T & CM products, skills to guide consumers in making informed decisions, and communication with other healthcare professionals to support appropriate and safe T & CM product use were all ranked with high levels of agreement. In order to effectively fulfill these responsibilities, pharmacists agreed that regulatory reforms, development of T & CM education and training, and access to quality products supported by high-quality evidence were needed.Conclusion: General agreement from across nine countries on eighteen professional responsibilities and several stakeholder actions serve as a foundation for the discussion and development of international T & CM guidelines for pharmacists.

Automated summary

This cross-cultural study examined the professional responsibilities and actions of pharmacists related to traditional and complementary medicine (T & CM) products. The study found that most pharmacists agreed that T & CM product use was common in their community, but lacked adequate training to support consumer needs. Pharmacists believed they should be able to inform consumers about potential risks, provide accurate scientific information, and communicate with other healthcare professionals to support safe T & CM product use.