title: Management of dry eye in UK pharmacies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the ability of pharmacy staff in the United Kingdom (UK) to diagnose and treat dry eye.
  
  
  METHODS
  A mystery shopper technique to simulate a patient with presumed dry eye was used in 50 pharmacy practices in major towns and cities across the UK. Pharmacies were unaware of their involvement in the study. With the exception of a predetermined opening statement to initiate the consultation, no further information was volunteered. Questions asked, diagnoses given, management strategy advised and staff type was recorded immediately after the consultation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean number of questions was 4.5 (SD 1.7; range 1-10). The most common question was the duration of symptoms (56%) and the least common was whether the patient had a history of headaches (2%). All pharmacy staff gave a diagnosis, but the majority were incorrect (58%), with only 42% correctly identifying dry eye. Treatment was advised by 92% of pharmacy staff, with the remaining 8% advising referral directly to the patient's GP or optometrist. Dry eye treatments involved topical ocular lubrication via eye drops (90%) and lipid based sprays (10%). However, only 10% gave administration advice, 10% gave dosage advice, 9% asked about contact lens wear, and none offered follow up although 15% also advised GP or optometrist referral.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a need for improved ophthalmological training amongst pharmacists and pharmacy staff and establishment of cross referral relationships between pharmacies and optometry practices.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmic Research Group, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK.
authors.forename: Paramdeep S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Bilkhu
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmic Research Group, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK.
authors.forename: James S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Wolffsohn
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmic Research Group, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK.
authors.forename: Gou W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmic Research Group, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK. Electronic address: s.a.naroo@aston.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Shehzad A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Naroo
mesh_terms: D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003261:Contact Lenses; D019468:Disease Management; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Diagnosis; Dry eye; Management; Mystery shopper; Pharmacy