As a potential main player in the primary health care sector and the impending National Health Insurance (NHI), community pharmacists could make a significant contribution to easing the health care burden in South Africa. Recent legislative and organizational changes related to the corporatization of pharmacy in South Africa have impacted significantly on the profession and stand to weaken the already ‘tenuous’ professional identity of pharmacists in the country. Since community pharmacists are viewed as potential main players in the primary health care sector, the influence of corporatization on pharmacists’ identities and their concomitant ability to contribute to easing the health care burden in South Africa need to be considered. In this regard, this study examined the influence that corporatization has had on the professional identity of community pharmacists practicing in the Nelson Mandela Bay area of South Africa. That is, in an effort to understand the influence that corporatization has had on changing professional identities and practices the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours of community pharmacists regarding the philosophy and practice of pharmacy were explored. This included ascertaining community pharmacists’ self-perception of their professional identity and the perception of users of these community pharmacies. The study was conducted from an interpretative epistemological paradigm, based on a philosophy of pragmatism. Data collection was conducted in two phases and a qualitative approach, which included in-depth and semi-structured interviews, was adopted as a design. Phase one investigated the self-perceptions of sixteen community pharmacists, equally distributed between independent and corporate pharmacies in the Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB). Phase two examined the perceptions of thirty-two end-users of the pharmacies included in the study. Data from both phases were then analysed and interpreted. Following the identification of seven core professional identities, namely pharmacists as custodian or keeper of medicines; primary health care givers; confidante and carer; jaded; astute and credible; corporate; and independent, it was determined that corporatization has, to various degrees, had an effect on the undermining of Nelson Mandela Bay community pharmacists’ view of themselves as skilled professionals in the health care sector. In short, it was found that corporatization is believed to have blurred the boundaries related to what it means to be a pharmacist and what role pharmacists should play in the provision of public health care. Corporatization does not appear to have influenced the patients’ or pharmacy end-users’ perceptions of the pharmacist, and furthermore does not play a major role in their choice of pharmacy. It is the perception of pharmacists in this study that with the introduction of legislative changes, more so corporatization, they experienced an undermining of their professional skill and disregard for costs involved in becoming a pharmacist. The perceived undermining of the professional skill of pharmacists threatens the valuable contribution that community pharmacists can make to balancing the country’s socio-economic status by appropriately and efficiently assisting in preventing, managing and/or reducing the disease burden in South Africa. Corporatization of the community pharmacy sector seems to have realized the government’s intention of making medication affordable to its citizens, however, the certainty of whether corporatization benefits patients that are in need of access remains to be seen. Community pharmacists could in fact, capitalize on the identification and enactment of their clinical skill (pharmaceutical and social caregiving) as this skill appears to be a tool that will allow pharmacists meaningful transition to being real contributors of primary health care in the imminent introduction of the NHI. At the same time, recognition of the role a pharmacist plays in primary health care will be supporting the government in its endeavours to making medicine accessible and affordable to all South African citizens without compromising their health needs. Ultimately, pharmacists can assist in the balancing and/or improvement of the socio-economic status of our society and the country.

Dans le contexte de ressources limitées actuelles, il est nécessaire pour les pharmaciens de justifier la valeur ajoutée de leurs interventions pharmaceutiques (IP) formulées lors de l'analyse pharmaceutique (AP). L’objectif de ce travail de thèse est de mener une recherche sur les méthodes d'évaluation de la pertinence des IPs et développer un nouvel outil pour l’évaluation de l‘impact potentiel des IPs. Le travail se décompose en 3 grandes parties : (i) contexte de l’AP, et méthodes d'évaluation de l’impact des IPs, (ii) revue systématique des outils pour évaluer la pertinence potentielle des IPs, (iii) processus de développement et de validation du nouvel outil multidimensionnel - nommé CLEO pour évaluer l’impact potentiel des IPs. Les résultats de cette recherche apportent des éléments nouveaux pour l’évaluation et la démonstration de la valeur des IPs dans un objectif global de déploiement des services de pharmacie clinique. / In times of limited resources allocation, it is necessary for pharmacists to justify the added value of their pharmacist interventions (PIs) made during medication review (MR). The purpose of this thesis work is to research on methodologies of evaluation of value of PIs as well as development and validation of a new tool for assessing potential impacts of PIs. The work consists of 3 major parties: (i) context in which MR locates, characteristics of practice of MR, and methodologies of evaluation of impacts of PIs, (ii) systematic review of tools for assessing the potential significance of PIs in literature , (iii) process of development and validation of the new multidimensional tool - named CLEO for assessing potential impacts of PIs. The whole results of this research are useful to evaluate and demonstrate the value of PIs in efforts to expand clinical pharmacy services.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Objective: To describe the studies on the working process during the practice of pharmacist dispensing. Methods: Three systematic reviews the following steps were performed accordingly: (1) identification of studies in the following databases: PubMed / Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, and Lilacs, using the descriptors ''counseling'', ''dispensing'', ''community pharmacy services'',' ''pharmacies'' and ''pharmacists'' and its synonyms with different combinations; (2) evaluation studies, in which the title and summary were eligible, according to the following inclusion criteria: studies were conducted in community pharmacies, studies on the working process in the practice of pharmaceutical dispensing and articles published in English, Portuguese or Spanish. (3) Full Text evaluation according to the following inclusion criteria: - 1st Systematic Review: The aim of this review was to understand the process of work and the quality indicators used in the Dispensation. Thus, we had the following inclusion criteria: studies with quality indicators in the dispensing work process; - 2nd Systematic Review: this review aimed to identify the questions and instructions given by the pharmacist and propose a model of practice for dispensing. Therefore, he presented as specific inclusion criteria: studies that have questions and/ or guidelines in the work process in the practice of pharmaceutical dispensing; - 3rd Systematic Review: whose objective was to evaluate the studies documenting the work process in the practice of pharmaceutical dispensing. Therefore, we had the specific inclusion criteria: studies that addressed the documentation of the work process in the practice of pharmaceutical dispensing. When there were differences between the two evaluators, a third evaluator examined and judged discrepancies in each systematic review. The databases were reviewed until September 02, 2015. Results: - In the first systematic review included 60 articles. The studies showed high heterogeneity indicating the lack of standardization of the practice of pharmaceutical dispensing work process. It was found that the quality of the tools used to evaluate the dispensing work process was not often assessed. Nine quality indicators in practice dispensing work process were found. - In the second systematic review articles 65 were included, with most studies used the method of Simulated patient, with most patients showing a passive behavior. by were listed and quantified the most common questions and instructions given pharmacists as: identification and clinical condition of the patient, indication, dose and effect of the drug, allergy, duration of treatment, adverse effects, drug interactions, non-pharmacological treatments and referral to the doctor. - In the third systematic review were included 26 articles. Few studies have addressed the documentation as part of the dispensing work process and most documented by non-computerized instruments. Conclusion: Studies on pharmaceutical dispensing should be standardized, which will facilitate the comparison of results and measure the working process of this service. Protocols, algorithms and practical documentation are needed to guide, standardize the work process of dispensing and measuring the impact of interventions by community pharmacists in patient care. / Objetivo: descrever os estudos publicados sobre o processo de trabalho durante a prática da dispensação farmacêutica. Métodos: Três revisões sistemáticas foram realizadas de acordo as seguintes etapas: (1) identificação de estudos nas seguintes bases de dados: PubMed/ Medline, Web of Science, Scopus e Lilacs, usando os descritores ‘‘counseling”, ‘‘dispensing”, ‘‘community pharmacy services’’, ‘‘pharmacies’’ and ‘‘pharmacists’’ e seus sinônimos com diferentes combinações; (2) avaliação de estudos, no qual o título e resumo foram elegíveis, de acordo com as seguintes critérios de inclusão: estudos serem conduzidos em farmácias comunitárias, estudos sobre o processo de trabalho na prática da dispensação farmacêutica e artigos publicados em inglês, português ou espanhol. (3) avaliação do texto completo de acordo com os critérios de inclusão a seguir: - 1ª Revisão Sistemática: o objetivo desta revisão foi conhecer o processo de trabalho e os indicadores de qualidade utilizados na Dispensação. Assim, teve-se como critérios de inclusão: estudos com indicadores de qualidade no processo de trabalho da Dispensação; - 2ª Revisão Sistemática: esta revisão visou Identificar as perguntas e orientações realizadas pelo farmacêutico e propor um modelo de prática para a dispensação. Logo, apresentou-se como critérios de inclusão específicos: estudos que tiveram perguntas e/ou orientações no processo de trabalho na prática da dispensação farmacêutica; - 3ª Revisão Sistemática: cujo objetivo foi avaliar os estudos que documentaram o processo de trabalho na prática da dispensação farmacêutica. Portanto, teve-se como critério de inclusão específico: estudos que abordaram a documentação no processo de trabalho na prática da dispensação farmacêutica. Quando ocorreram divergências entre os dois avaliadores, um terceiro avaliador analisou e julgou as discrepâncias em cada revisão sistemática. As bases de dados foram revisadas até 02 de setembro de 2015. Resultados: - Na primeira revisão sistemática foram incluídos 60 artigos. Os estudos apresentaram alta heterogeneidade indicando a falta de padronização do processo de trabalho da prática da dispensação farmacêutica. Foi detectado que a qualidade dos instrumentos utilizados para avaliar o processo de trabalho da dispensação não foi, muitas vezes, avaliada. Nove indicadores de qualidade no processo de trabalho da dispensação prática foram encontrados. – Na segunda revisão sistemática foram incluídos 65 artigos, sendo que a maior parte dos estudos utilizou o método do Paciente Simulado, com a maioria dos pacientes apresentando comportamento passivo. Foram listadas e quantificadas as perguntas e orientações mais comuns realizadas pelos farmacêuticos como: identificação e condição clínica do paciente, indicação, dose e ação do medicamento, alergia, duração do tratamento, efeitos adversos, interações medicamentosas, tratamentos não farmacológicos e encaminhamento ao médico. – Na terceira revisão sistemática foram incluídos 26 artigos. Poucos estudos abordaram a documentação como parte do processo de trabalho da dispensação e a maioria documentou por meio de instrumentos não informatizados. Conclusão: Estudos e a prática da dispensação farmacêutica devem ser padronizados, o que irá facilitar a comparação dos resultados e medir o processo de trabalho desse serviço. Protocolos, algoritmos e documentação da prática são necessários para guiar, padronizar o processo de trabalho da dispensação e medir o impacto das intervenções dos farmacêuticos comunitários no cuidado ao paciente.

The origin of the word ‘communication’ is the Latin word communicare, meaning to make common. The reason for our communication is to share thoughts, feelings and information, we want to affect and confirm. We are used to interpersonal communication, but even if we have had a lot of practice at it during our lives, we still find our selves facing misunderstandings and conflicts. The more people we meet during a day, the greater the chance is for interruptions in the communication. In pharmacy practice, good communication is vital for the client’s health and quality of life. In recent years, there has been a change of focus in pharmacy practice, from the medication to the clients. To be able to provide care for the client and to reduce drug related problems, a good relationship has to be built between staff and client. The tool for building this relationship is good communication. The aim of this study was to observe the communication between clients and pharmacy employees. How many of the encounters involve communication problems? What is causing the communication problems? What can the pharmacist do to improve the encounter? How do pharmacists handle communication problems, and how does this affect the outcome of the encounter? The data was collected using structured observations at pharmacies using a coding scheme, defined with rules and procedures. The encounters studied were those involving a client, an employee with the title ‘Leg. Apotekare’ or ‘Leg. Receptarie’ and a conversation about prescriptions. Different kinds of communication problems or potential communication problems were identified, but more specific categorisations were needed. Two systems to identify different types of communication problems were developed. One identified different levels of communication problems, not taking in to account what or who caused them. The other system identified the communication problems caused by circumstances or the client, but not by the pharmacist. This was used to compare pharmacist behaviour in connection to the communication problems. The results show that communication problems were found in almost a third of the 343 valid observations, according to the levels of communication problem previously described. The most common potential communication problems were lack of eye contact, not expressing positivity, the client helping someone else to get their medicine and that the client’s medicine was not in store at the pharmacy. In spite of all the communication problems, 95,9 % of the clients were perceived as satisfied at the end of the encounter. What the pharmacist can do to prevent the potential communication problem from causing an actual communication problem is to reinforce positive behaviour. For example to maintain eye contact, be a good listener, act with concern for the client and be specific and clear while communicating. When comparing the pharmacists’ behaviour in problematical encounters that ended well and those who did not, the usage of positive behaviour was generally more common in the encounters that ended well. Therefore, the conclusion is, that a reduction in the number of problematical encounters could be reached by intentional use of positive reinforcement by the pharmacists.

Class of 2006 Abstract / Objectives: To determine acceptance rate of pharmacist recommendation in an interdisciplinary chronic pain clinic. Subjects: Veterans enrolled in the Southern Arizona Veterans Administration Health Care System (SAVAHCS) Methods: The study will be a retrospective chart review. Data will be collected from electronic medical records. Included in this database are demographics, consult notes, medication history, and physician visits. Information unavailable will be medical care received outside the SAVAHCS closed system that is not disclosed by the patient. Number and types of recommendations, as well as acceptance of these options by the primary care provider will be calculated. Results: The number and type of recommendations initiated within 30 days will be calculated; and acceptance rates will be compared pre and post changes in the format of relaying these recommendations. Implications: The results will determine whether changing how the recommendation is presented to patients primary care providers (by the pharmacist) will affect acceptance rate.

The thesis explores the various instances in which pharmacists may incur delictual liability for harm suffered by their patients or third parties. As such, it is primarily concerned with the field of professional negligence. The work focuses specifically on the wrongfulness, fault and causation enquiries in pharmacy malpractice cases. The discussion is set against the backdrop of the pharmacy profession's shift towards patient-orientated service in recent years and explores whether this change in the profession's social role has had any effect on the legal duties and standard of care to which pharmacists are currently bound. It is argued that, in light of the dangers posed by modern medicines and the extent to which pharmacists are professionally expected to involve themselves in patient care, pharmacists can no longer escape liability simply by accurately dispensing pharmaceutical products. Rather, they are expected to participate actively in avoiding drug-related injury by, for example, providing patient counselling, detecting invalid or erroneous prescriptions and monitoring prescription refills. Although the thesis places particular emphasis on the role of pharmacists in achieving risk management, it also argues that pharmacists are, in very limited circumstances, required to participate in the risk assessment process traditionally thought to fall exclusively into the realm of physicians. It is furthermore demonstrated that pharmacists can incur liability regardless of whether a patient's harm can also be partially attributed to the blameworthy conduct of another healthcare professional. Although the thesis concludes that pharmacists are currently exposed to greater risks of liability than they were in the past, it also shows that plaintiffs who seek damages from pharmacists will usually experience a number of difficulties in establishing liability. In particular, problems are likely to be encountered in satisfying a court as to the presence of factual causation, which is notoriously difficult to establish in drug-related cases.

Optimal management of a chronic disease, like asthma, requires the active participation of patients. To achieve this, patients require education about asthma. Many of the recommended components of asthma care and management might not be effective without adequate patient education. Pharmacists in community, hospital and clinic practice are well placed to provide continued information and reinforcement of key messages, in order to improve compliance with medication and the outcomes of asthma management plans. Pharmacists may be able to increase medication adherence with patient counselling and monitoring systems and by facilitating communication with physicians. However, regardless of this, it remains uncertain whether pharmacist-patient interactions improve patient outcomes, and in spite of recommendations for teamwork and a multidisciplinary approach in the education of asthma patients, medical doctors and nurses are still largely responsible for carrying out the greatest part of patient education. The objectives of this study were therefore to determine the impact of pharmaceutical care services at a primary health care level on the management and well-being of asthmatic patients; to determine the effect of complex or multi-faceted pharmaceutical interventions, in patients with asthma, on lung function, asthma knowledge, attitudes and perceived self-management efficacy, asthma related quality of life and asthma control; and to determine the extent to which pharmacotherapeutic interventions, with regards to medication changes and dosage changes, are accepted and implemented by doctors. A randomised-control study was conducted at a primary health care clinic in the Eastern Cape. A total of 120 patients were allocated to two groups of sixty patients each (a Control Group and an Intervention Group). Baseline values were measured and follow-up interviews and post-intervention data collection were conducted three months afterwards for each group. Patients in the Control Group were attended to by the clinic staff as usual. Patients in the Intervention Group were educated on their disease by a pharmacist. The use of a customised 500ml plastic bottle as a spacer was suggested and each patient’s medication was evaluated against the Standard Treatment Guidelines for the management of asthma in adults at the primary health care level and where necessary, prescribing recommendations were made. Following assessment of the medication regimens of the patients in the Intervention Group, a total of 49 prescribing recommendations were made, of which 73 percent were accepted by both the doctor and patient. After educating the patients in the Intervention Group on inhaler technique, a significant improvement in technique was observed at the 3-month follow-up assessment (p<0.05). Using a short form of the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ(S)), a significant improvement post-intervention in mean total quality of life score (p<0.05) and mean average quality of life score (p<0.05) in the Intervention Group, were demonstrated. An improvement in mean activity limitation score in the Intervention Group post-intervention was also recorded for the activity limitation subscale of the AQLQ(S) (p<0.05). On measuring changes in asthma related knowledge, attitudes and self-efficacy, using a questionnaire (KASE-AQ), a significant improvement in mean knowledge score in the Intervention Group after the intervention (p<0.05) was also shown. With regards to lung function, both vital capacity (percent FVC) and expiratory flow volumes (percent FEV1) improved significantly in the Intervention Group (p<0.05). This study therefore demonstrated that multi-faceted pharmacist interventions, including medication assessment, asthma education, education on inhaler technique and the provision of medication aids in the form of spacers, can significantly improve the management of asthma patients and improve their well-being and quality of life.

Cardiovascular disease contributes to mortality and morbidity statistics worldwide and in South Africa. The current focus in health care revolves around activities aimed at preventing the development of cardiovascular disease, rather than the treatment of disease. The identification of risk factors that can predispose a patient to the development of cardiovascular disease is an essential component of any cardiovascular disease management programme. It is necessary that in the management of these risk factors, they are not considered to be isolated, but inter-related. Through the provision of point-of-care cardiovascular risk screening and monitoring services as well as disease-related counselling, the community pharmacist, as a readily accessible source of healthcare, can play an essential role in the cardiovascular disease management process. The aim of this study was to describe the nature of the services provided by community pharmacists with respect to cardiovascular risk and disease management in the Nelson Mandela Metropole. The research design was a non-experimental, descriptive study using a crosssectional survey method. Data was obtained through the utilisation of a questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of three sections and was administered to community pharmacies in the Nelson Mandela Metropole, that provided cardiovascular point-of-care screening services. The community pharmacists correctly identified cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity (76.6 percent; 36, n=47) and smoking (27.7 percent; 13, n=47). Other cardiovascular risk factors such as abdominal obesity (4.2 percent; 2, n=47), gender (2.1 percent; 1, n=47) and family history (4.2 percent; 2, n=47) were largely ignored by the pharmacists. Point-of-care testing services were readily available in the pharmacies, with all of the pharmacies providing blood glucose and blood pressure measurements. Blood cholesterol measurements were only provided in 87.8 percent (36, n=41) of the pharmacies. The services were generally provided in a clinic facility, with 90.2 percent (37, n=41) of the pharmacies having a clinic facility available. Pharmacists were involved in the provision of point-of-care services, with 85.4 percent (35, n=41) of the pharmacies indicating that the pharmacists participated. Pharmacists readily provided counselling prior (70.7 percent; 29, n=41) to and after (80.5 percent; 33, n=41) the conduction of the screening services on areas such as lifestyle modification and treatment options. Only 15 percent (7, n=47) of the pharmacists indicated that they were aware of Cardiovascular Risk Calculator Tools and none of the pharmacists indicated that they had utilised such a tool. Pharmacists recommended frequent monitoring (60.5 percent; 26, n=43) and lifestyle modification (67.4 percent; 29, n=43) to patients, if the result of their screening service was within normal limits. However, the majority of the pharmacists indicated that they would refer patients, if the results obtained were out of the normal range. Conclusions based on the findings indicated that the pharmacists are readily providing cardiovascular risk screening services. The pharmacists were also able to identify the presence of any risk factors that can lead to the development of cardiovascular disease in the patients. However, active pharmaceutical involvement in further cardiovascular disease monitoring seemed to be lacking. Recommendations were made on areas such as reimbursement for pharmaceutical care services, increased utilisation of support staff and Continuing Professional Development events that could assist in improving the role of the community pharmacist in cardiovascular disease management.

The Swedish pharmacy market has been state regulated for many years. In early 21st century, the Swedish government made a proposal to deregulate the pharmacy market in order to make a reform that would make privatization of pharmacies a possibility. The reason behind this change of the pharmacy market from state perspective was to create better service for the public. The Swedish government hoped that the change would result in increasing service selection, increased accessibility and a lower cost of non-prescription and prescription medicine. Private operators need approval from the Swedish Health Department before they can pursue their own establishment. When deregulation was finalized, many private operators opened privately owned pharmacies. The purpose of this study is to create insight on how the organizational change has evolved since the deregulation of the pharmacy market. It is also important to find out how the organizational change of the pharmacy market has affected the framework of pharmacists as an occupation. The perception of Pharmacist’ labour and changes on the profession as a whole is also studied. The study has been conducted using qualitative method to collect empirical data. Interviews have been made by conducting structured interviews with six local pharmacists. The empirical data has been analyzed by using the theory of professions. The theories of profession is used to explain pharmacists as a professions. In addition to organizational change, the study reviews pharmacist perspective, interpretation and valuation of their everyday life on the work arena. The pharmacists reveal several changes in their work life. Today they have bigger opportunities to choose employer, where before it was only one, today there are a lot of private pharmacies. That means they also can decide working hours because all the pharmacies have different working hours. Their perspectives are formulated in ways that show new routines and way of work. Due to the free market and competition between pharmacies, focus has shifted towards increased sale perspective. Pharmacist acknowledge that even though they are a profession, they feel that they have a higher workload, often less time with clients and sense of being a sales person.

Thesis (M.Pharm.(Pharmacology)) --University of Limpopo, 2014. / Management of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in Private Pharmacies in Limpopo Province: Practice and Knowledge of Pharmacists Background: In 2001, the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) developed a strategic plan, which recognised the crucial role that pharmacists could play in controlling sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and the spread of HIV infection. In South Africa, patients seek and receive treatment for STIs from pharmacies despite a legal restriction (Ward, Pharm, Butler, Mugao, Klausner, Mcfarland, Chen & Schwarcz, 2003). Current legislation bars people to seek treatment from the pharmacists for certain acute illnesses, thus significantly influencing the spread of some infections with the view that the longer infections remain untreated, the more opportunities for transmissions to occur. The perceived lack of treatment options in private pharmacies may even prevent patients from accessing advice or preventative measures at the pharmacy level (Gupta, Sane, Gurbani, Bollinger, Mehendale & Godbole, 2010). It is against this background that the study was carried out with the aim of assessing the knowledge and practice of private pharmacists in management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the Limpopo Province and ultimately assist in the reduction of the spread of HIV infections. Objectives: The objectives of the study were; to identify areas of weakness in services provided by pharmacists in management of STIs in private pharmacies; to identify possible pharmaceutical care of HIV; to determine the level of use of Department of Health Standard Treatment Guidelines of sexually transmitted infections by private pharmacy; to determine the availability of sexually transmitted infection drugs for treatment of STIs; and to identify the type of information given to clients with STI. Method: A cross-sectional design was used in this study. The study was carried out in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Out of the population of 130 pharmacies registered with the SAPC in Limpopo, a sample of 23 was selected. The pharmacies were stratified according to where they were located. This study used a questionnaire designed as an instrument of data collection. The data was collected through a face-to-face interview with the responsible pharmacist in each pharmacy outlet. This study used Simulated Client Method to evaluate the practice. In this method, simulated male and female clients visited randomly selected Pharmacies. Two scenarios were developed for a male patient with urethral discharge and a female patient with vaginal discharge. The simulated clients on a standardised reporting form, outside the pharmacy, carefully recorded all observations made during the simulated scenario. Data analysis: The data were analysed using cross-tabulation techniques and chi-square test was used to check existence of association. Compliance with Standard Treatment Guidelines in terms of treating STI syndrome was used as dependent variable. Location (Rural and urban) of private pharmacies, the gender of the client in the simulated client method, treating genital ulcer syndrome (GUS), treating male urethritis syndrome (MUS) and treating female vaginal discharge syndrome were used as independent variables. The existence of association between the dependent and variable was tested using the Chi-square test of independence. Result: The results showed that 27% of private pharmacies in Limpopo treated and managed STIs clients in accordance with Standard Treatment Guidelines. The structured interviews results showed that 78% of private pharmacists in Limpopo knew the linkage between HIV and STIs. Only 39% of the private pharmacists knew about the existence of Standard Treatment Guidelines and used them in daily client consultations. Cross tabulation of data on compliance with Standard Treatment Guidelines in terms of treating STI syndrome (the dependent variable) and the location of private pharmacies (the independent variable) produced a Chi-square value of 1.31. This showed that the dependent variable had no association with location of independent private pharmacies. The study found that the treatment and management of GUS, MUS and female discharge varied according to location of the private pharmacies. The medicines stocked were in line with the Standard Treatment Guidelines in both rural and urban pharmacies in the Limpopo Province. There was very high demand for STI medication without a prescription averaging of 150 clients per week. Private pharmacies in both areas gave the necessary information to their clients focused on use condom with 54%, partner notification with 38% and only 27% of pharmacists advised client to consult the physician. The simulated client visits showed the discrepancy between knowledge and actual practice of the private pharmacists. Conclusion: The majority of private pharmacies operating in the Limpopo Province do not comply with the Standard Treatment Guidelines for treatment and management of STIs due to inadequate knowledge. While there is a need to train some pharmacists in the provision of primary health care for syndromic STI treatment in order to reduce STIs and HIV transmission, the lifting of current legal restriction in South Africa that prevents pharmacists from prescribing STI medication may be necessary. The knowledge and practice of incidence of specific infections in communities served by the specific pharmacy should be part of the pharmaceutical care provision.