Questionnaire survey investigation of the present status of dietetic consultation at community pharmacies from the perspectives of registered dietitians and pharmacists

Abstract

Background Registered dietitians are rarely employed at community pharmacies in Japan, even though dietetic advice might benefit some patients. Objective To clarify the present status of dietetic consultation provided by registered dietitians and their collaboration with pharmacists in community pharmacies. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey of pharmacists and registered dietitians who work in community pharmacies. The surveyed items were: frequency of dietetic consultation, awareness of one’s knowledge and ability to conduct dietetic consultation, concerns, pharmacists’ recognition of the need for nutritional support at community pharmacies, and cooperation between registered dietitians and pharmacists. Results Sixty-six registered dietitians, 53 pharmacists in pharmacies with registered dietitians/dietitians, and 110 pharmacists in pharmacies without registered dietitians/dietitians responded. The frequency of dietetic consultation regarding obesity and hypertension was significantly higher for registered dietitians than for pharmacists. The ability to conduct dietetic consultation regarding diseases/conditions such as kidney disease not requiring dialysis, hyperuricemia, gout, obesity and hypertension was also significantly higher for dietitians than pharmacists. More than 70% of pharmacists recognized the importance of nutritional support at community pharmacies, while 56.1% of registered dietitians noted that they were not able to fully utilize their occupational abilities. Registered dietitians were divided into two groups: registered dietitians who answered that they were able to utilize their occupational abilities and those that answered they were not. The former group was more likely to ask pharmacists about patients’ medication for dietetic consultation and to be asked to provide dietetic consultation to patients. The latter group was more likely to find difficulty in scheduling dietetic consultation. Conclusion Our results suggest that registered dietitians in community pharmacies have a greater explanatory ability than pharmacists concerning nutritional and dietary management for patients. It may be important for pharmacists to improve cooperation with registered dietitians by providing more opportunities for dietetic consultation.

Joint interprofessional education of pharmacy and dietetics undergraduates - a scoping review

“…An education that includes the above fields allows for the systematic development of skills from the higher levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy [ 40 ] as students are not only aware of the presence of other health professions (remember), but also have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with their competencies and identify challenges that require collaboration (understand), implement protocols of practice (apply), draw conclusions on the relevance of cooperation (analyze), discuss the advantages and disadvantages of implemented solutions (evaluate), and propose innovative solutions to patient care based on the skills and knowledge of all team members (create). One of the examples of the collaboration between postgraduate dietitians and pharmacists regarding remember and understand levels of Bloom’s taxonomy is the study by Kizaki et al [ 41 ]., in which pharmacists and dietitians were asked to rate their feelings about the availability of dietary advice in pharmacies in Japan. When surveyed, 70% of pharmacists found this type of service useful.…”

Attitudes and knowledge of dietitian practice among a representative sample of Israeli adults

“…According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, dietitians and nutritionists “plan and conduct food service or nutritional programs to help people lead healthy lives.” ( Kizaki et al, 2021 ) Similarly, the Association of UK Dietitians describes the professional activities of dietitians as interpreting nutrition science “ to improve health and treat diseases/conditions by educating and giving practical, personalised advice to clients, patients, carers and colleagues.” ( US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Dietitians and Nutritionists.…”

Knowledge and Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Among Pharmacy and Clinical Nutrition Students at King Saud University

“…In a recently published survey among pharmacists and nutrition specialist found that `pharmacists acknowledged the need of nutritional and dietary care in community pharmacies and hoped that certified dietitians would be significantly involved. 10 Therefore, early introduction of this topic through IPE sessions is crucial to limit the problem in clinical practice and to enhance collaboration among healthcare professionals.…”