Community pharmacists' views, attitudes and early experiences of over-the-counter simvastatin.
OBJECTIVE
To describe community pharmacists' views, attitudes and early experiences of OTC simvastatin.


METHODS
A cross-sectional postal questionnaire survey of the main pharmacist in 2000 randomly selected community pharmacy premises in Great Britain (approximately 15%).


METHODS
The questionnaire comprised items on: attitudes to OTC simvastatin; continuing education; sales; and general views and experiences. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and content analysis of responses to open questions.


RESULTS
Questionnaires were returned by 1,156 community pharmacists (57.8%). Nine hundred and fifty-six respondents (82.7%) reported no sales of simvastatin in the previous fourteen days. Eighty-two (7.1%) sold one pack, 40 (3.5%) sold two packs and 18 (1.6%) sold three packs or more (60 did not answer). Almost all respondents (1,086, 93.9%) stated that they had participated in continuing education. Most (691/1,148, 60.1%) strongly agreed or agreed that they were entirely confident about selling simvastatin and that community pharmacists could make an appropriate risk assessment for the use of simvastatin (898/1,149, 78.2%). Responses to the open question identified a number of themes including: need for access to clinical information; cost as a barrier to supply; those purchasing were least likely to benefit; and the lack of an evidence base for the OTC dose.


CONCLUSIONS
Community pharmacists surveyed had undertaken an array of continuing education and felt confident to undertake cardiovascular risk assessment. However, very few sales of OTC simvastatin had been made and a variety of issues were identified, particularly relating to the evidence base, access to clinical information, cost and the product licence.
Hansford
Denise
D
School of Pharmacy, The Robert Gordon University, Schoolhill, Aberdeen AB10 1FR, Scotland, UK.
Cunningham
Scott
S
John
Dai
D
McCaig
Dorothy
D
Stewart
Derek
D
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003132:Commerce / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004346:Drug Information Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D004513:Education, Pharmacy, Continuing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018570:Risk Assessment; D019821:Simvastatin; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D019821:Simvastatin