Nutritional Knowledge Amongst Community Pharmacists - Dissertation Example

Results of the study were presented using both descriptive and inferential measures. Key findings revealed that the respondents are most knowledgeable in the areas of pregnancy and elderly and general nutrition and that these pharmacists are taking an active stance in their expanding role as nutrition counselors. However, 87.5% of the pharmacists admitted they do not have sufficient nutritional background. The nutritional assessment showed that the mean overall percentage score was 62.81%. Only the scores in the areas of general nutrition and drug-nutrient interactions showed a significant relationship with the nutritional background.

Among the recommendations formulated to support the counselor role of the community, pharmacists are the incorporation of substantial modules in nutrition in the pharmacy curriculum, institution of formal mechanisms to foster interest among pharmacists to hone their expertise in nutritional counseling, and encouraging research in the field of nutrition in the pharmaceutical context. The role of a professional pharmacist was depicted by Reeves (2005) as one which “has fitted itself and its practitioner to the needs of the public health and welfare, whatever they might be and regardless of mode or pattern .

[one] who holds dear the glorious heritage of the thousands of years” (p. 175). The task of pharmacists may be traced back early in history to be of common ancestry with a physician in general practice as apothecaries. As recalled by Bond (2009), apothecaries used to dispense medicines prescribed by doctors, and/or recommend medications for those members of the population who can not afford to consult a physician.  In the modern era, pharmacists are health care professionals whose specialty includes the actions, use, and chemistry of drugs, as well as their formulation into medicines, and the methods by which these are utilized in the management of illnesses.