A description of patients presenting with minor illness in community pharmacies in southern Chile

Abstract

Objective: To describe the characteristics of patients presenting with minor illness in community pharmacies in southern Chile. Setting: The study was carried out in three community pharmacies belonging to a major chain in the south of Chile, during eight consecutive days in each pharmacy between June and July 2003. Method: A questionnaire was designed and completed, by a pharmacy student, who observed patients suffering from any of the eight symptoms or conditions of nasal congestion, cough, dysmenorrhoea, head lice, diarrhoea, constipation, heartburn and acne, attending the sample community pharmacies during the observation period. Key findings: A total of 678 presentations was registered, the patients were mainly female (64.9%) and adults (68.8%). In almost half (46.2%) of the presentations, the patients sought help for the symptom of cough. The sex of the patients was associated with the condition presented, but not the kind of attention sought. Females, more frequently than males (44.8% versus 32.4%), came to the pharmacy on behalf of another person. In a majority of the consultations (57.5%), the patient sought a recommendation on how to deal with his/her health problem, rather than asking for a product by name. The pharmacist carried out the service personally in only 2.4% of the cases and the patients were referred to a physician in less than 1% of the cases. The reason most frequently indicated (38.2%) by the individuals who sought help for their health problems was prompt attention. Conclusion: An average of 28 patients daily sought help for one of the target conditions and in almost half of the cases this was for the symptom of cough. A cause of concern is the very low frequencies with which patients were attended to by the pharmacist or referred to a physician, leaving the choice of treatment in the hands of the pharmacy assistant or the patient. © 2007 The Authors.