title: An exploratory study of the acceptability of delivering oral health information in community pharmacies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The community pharmacy is an accessible service which, with further training and support, could be used to deliver oral health messages. This is important especially for those with systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease, where the oral environment may have a negative impact. This qualitative study assessed the feasibility of pharmacists delivering oral health messages in community pharmacies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 49 pharmacists in Dunedin and Auckland, New Zealand, with a focus on the pharmacists' current knowledge, attitudes and possibilities for providing oral health information to patients with diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There is potential for community pharmacists to provide oral health information to patients, dependent on the approach of the pharmacist and the patient response. The majority of pharmacists agreed that providing oral health advice was within their role; however, few did so proactively. They highlighted a lack of available resources relating to oral health and systemic disease. Further training relating to oral health and systemic disease would be necessary to provide the knowledge to support any resources. The preferred option by pharmacists for such training was an evening course or workshop.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Sciences, University of Otago School of Dentistry, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Amanda J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Buxcey
authors.forename: Kate C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Morgaine
authors.forename: Alison M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Meldrum
authors.forename: Mary P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Cullinan
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases; D054626:Consumer Health Information; D003376:Counseling; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus; D004512:Education, Pharmacy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006267:Health Education, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009520:New Zealand; D009909:Oral Health; D010594:Pharmacies; D010595:Pharmacists; D024382:Professional Role; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations