Comparison of verbal claims for natural health products made by health food stores staff versus pharmacists in Ontario, Canada.
BACKGROUND
This study tested the hypothesis that while there are no written medical claims existing for many NHP, such claims are made verbally, giving a false impression that these are proven medical products.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the number and type of verbal claims for NHP made by pharmacists to those made by health food stores personnel.


METHODS
Randomly selected Canadian pharmacies selling NHP and health food stores were visited and the staff was asked to recommend natural health products for the treatment of hypertension.


RESULTS
All health food stores (n=20) but only 4 out of 38 pharmacies (p< 0.001) recommended NHP for the treatment of hypertension. A majority of health food store staff (70%) stated that NHP are superior or equal to medicinal drugs in treating hypertension based on efficacy.


CONCLUSIONS
Unlike pharmacy practice, verbal claims are common practice in health food stores, despite the lack of either written claims and/or proof of efficacy for most of them. These may be a very effective approach given that 30-40% of North American adults are functionally illiterate. These verbal claims are often inappropriate and not evidence-based.
Koren
Gideon
G
Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada. gkoren@uwo.ca
Oren
Dana
D
Rouleau
Maud
M
Carmeli
Daphna
D
Matsui
Doreen
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D004348:Drug Labeling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005515:Food Labeling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009324:Naturopathy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012923:Social Class