Is there a role for community pharmacists in promoting oral health?

• Published in: British dental journal 2015-03, Vol.218 (5), p.E10-E10
• Main Authors: Mann, R. S., Marcenes, W., Gillam, D. G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 692/700/3032/3053/3054; 692/700/3032/3086; Adult; Aged; Attitude of Health Personnel; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dentistry; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Promotion - methods; Health Promotion - organization & administration; Humans; London; Male; Medicine; Middle Aged; Oral Health; Pharmacies - organization & administration; Pharmacists - organization & administration; Professional Role; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0007-0610; 1476-5373
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2015.172

Key Points Highlights that community pharmacists can play an important role in oral health promotion. Proposes that the addition of specific oral health subjects in the pharmacy curriculum may enable pharmacists to provide better oral health advice. Suggests that collaboration between pharmacists and other healthcare professionals could offer more effective oral health promotion strategies. Aim The main aim of the present study was to investigate whether pharmacists recognised that they have a role in the promotion of oral health advice within the community. Methods A cross sectional survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire which was distributed to randomly selected pharmacies (n = 1,500) in the London area. Results Six hundred and forty-five pharmacies (43%) responded to the initial invitation and 589 (39%) of pharmacy participants acknowledged that pharmacists should have a role in oral health promotion. Participants from 354 pharmacies (23.6%) subsequently agreed to complete the questionnaire. Of those pharmacies completing the questionnaire, 99.4% of the pharmacy participants recognised that there was a role for pharmacists in oral health promotion. Although 91.5% of the pharmacists reported a fairly high level of knowledge for most of the common oral conditions, they also indicated that they were interested in receiving further training on oral conditions through continuing professional development (CPD) courses. A number of the pharmacies (72.5%) expressed a willingness to incorporate oral health promotion within the NHS pharmacy contract. Conclusion Pharmacies may be used effectively in oral health promotion by virtue of their frequent contact with members of public. As a result of their established role in promoting and improving the health within the community, it may possible to incorporate oral health within the existing NHS contract.