Fever in children, assessment questions, and counseling in community pharmacies: a mystery shopping study Abstract Background The pharmacy staff's lack of knowledge and difficulties in asking key questions lead to incorrect medication recommendations or use. This issue may, for example, apply to fever medicine for children, which this study investigates. Aim The purpose of the study is to evaluate the advisory services of pharmacy personnel regarding fever treatment, by evaluating the use of key patient questions and the accuracy of the advice, with a special focus on fever in children. Method The survey assessed fever treatment advice at 54 pharmacies using mystery shopping, where researchers pose as customers with a scripted scenario to evaluate pharmacy staff conduct, followed by filling out a documentation form after each visit. The results were ultimately analyzed descriptively in Excel. Results The study's results based on the consultations in the 54 pharmacies, age was frequently asked (98%) but detailed questions and full dosing advice were often overlooked. Paracetamol was commonly recommended (78%), (e.g. all pharmacists n=12, pharmacy technicians n=6 gave this advice), and ASA was suggested in 43% of cases if specifically requested, despite not being a first recommendation. However, unclear what educational background 86% of these had. Conclusion This survey shows a gap between guidelines and actual pharmacy practices in managing children's fever, especially in asking specific questions and giving dosing advice. It highlights the critical need for improved, standardized training and resources like checklists and a shared database to ensure consistent and expert advice. There is also a tendency that when the education was unfamiliar less adequate advices were given.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:uu-526621 |
| Date | January 2024 |
| Creators | Safoo, Grees |
| Publisher | Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för farmaci |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | Swedish |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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