Health promotion beliefs and practices among pharmacists.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the health promotion beliefs and practices of pharmacists. DESIGN: Cross-sectional mail survey. SETTING: Indiana. PARTICIPANTS: Staff pharmacists. METHODS: Of the 1,440 registered Indiana pharmacies, one-half were selected using a systematic random process. Questionnaires were mailed to the 720 selected pharmacies asking one staff pharmacist to complete a 73-item questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 552 pharmacists responded to the questionnaire, providing a 76.7% response rate. The majority of pharmacists believed that 10 of the 20 behaviors encouraged by national health objectives were very important for the average person. There was, however, considerably less agreement among pharmacists about the importance of the other 10 behaviors and practices. Pharmacists' involvement, preparation, and confidence in specific health promotion areas and activities were limited. A number of barriers were cited by respondents that could have hindered pharmacists' involvement in public health education activities. Despite these hindrances, pharmacists appear to be making strides toward providing health promotion education and activities. CONCLUSION: Pharmacists are readily accessible sources of information concerning the importance of needed lifestyle factors on health. They can provide valuable education to patients about improvement of lifestyles as a routine component of pharmaceutical care.

Kentucky pharmacists' opinions and practices related to the sale of cigarettes and alcohol in pharmacies.

The objective of the study was to augment important findings from a 1996 statewide survey of Indiana pharmacists regarding their opinions and practices related to the sale of cigarettes and alcohol in pharmacies. More specifically, this study was designed (1) to determine opinions and practices of Kentucky pharmacists' related to the sale of cigarettes and alcohol; (2) compare these findings with results from the Indiana study; and (3) to gather information on health promotion activities by Kentucky pharmacists. A structured survey questionnaire was designed and reviewed by a jury of experts and subsequently administered to half of the 1182 pharmacies in Kentucky. Collected data were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Findings reveal that 45 percent of responding pharmacists sell cigarettes in their stores even though 88 percent think that their stores should not sell cigarettes. Approximately 34 percent of the pharmacies in non-dry counties sell alcoholic beverages while more than four-fifths of the pharmacists (81%) think pharmacies should not sell alcoholic beverages. After adjusting by type of pharmacy, no statistical difference was found in retail-chain pharmacy sales of cigarettes and alcohol in either Kentucky or Indiana. However, independent pharmacies in Kentucky were less likely to sell cigarettes and alcohol compared to independent Indiana pharmacies. Study results also revealed that most pharmacists agree the use of cigarettes and alcohol are important causes of morbidity and pre-mature mortality and that pharmacists should play a role in health promotion and disease prevention through their relationship with the public. However, the majority do not ask their patients about their smoking and alcohol habits and do not participate in health education/promotion programs for the general community.

Adolescent girls' knowledge of and attitudes toward breast self-examination: evaluating an outreach education program.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to analyze the effectiveness of a one-hour educational intervention to increase knowledge about and improve attitudes towards breast self-examination (BSE) and early cancer detection among adolescent girls. METHODS: The sample used in this quasi-experimental study was selected from schools participating in an education program provided by a regional health education center. The instrument and scales used in the study were developed and pilot-tested for reliability and validity in the area schools prior to the start of the study. The sample consisted of 137 adolescent girls who provided consent forms and participated in the intervention. The comparison group, which consisted of students attending the same schools, was scheduled to receive the intervention at a later date. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that a one-hour lesson can improve knowledge and attitudes of adolescent girls with respect to BSE and early cancer detection. Suggestions for further research are discussed.

Pharmacists' concerns and suggestions related to the sale of tobacco and alcohol in pharmacies.

A random sample of Pharmacists in Indiana was selected and surveyed regarding their thoughts and comments on the sale of tobacco and alcoholic products by pharmacies. A total of 212 pharmacists provided written responses to an open-ended question. The replies were then synthesized into major themes. The majority of comments categorized revealed strong opposition to pharmacies selling tobacco and alcohol products. The most frequently occurring message regarding the sale of these products by pharmacies was that it goes against the pharmacist's role as a professional health care provider and may harm their image. For some pharmacists, this issue posed a moral dilemma between caring for patient safety and the economic incentives provided by the sale of tobacco and alcohol. Based on these findings, a follow-up phone survey was conducted to solicit suggestions from pharmacists on how to advocate against the sale of tobacco and alcohol by pharmacies. The majority of pharmacists strongly recommended that they need to do more among themselves and within their store environment, rather than have regulations imposed on pharmacies when it comes to limiting the sale of these products.

Pharmacists' opinions and practices related to the sale of cigarettes and alcohol--a follow-up study.

Opinions that pharmacists hold and their practices concerning sale of cigarettes and alcohol are of interest to health experts. As a follow-up to a 1990 statewide survey of pharmacists opinions and practices related to the sale of cigarettes and alcohol, this study was designed (1) to determine current opinions and practices of pharmacists' related to the sale of cigarettes and alcohol; (2) compare these findings with results from the 1990 study; and (3) to gather new information on pharmacists' practice of health promotion activities. A structured survey questionnaire was designed and reviewed by a jury of experts and subsequently administered to half of the 1340 pharmacies in Indiana. Collected data were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Findings reveal that 64 percent of responding pharmacists sell cigarettes in their stores even though 82 percent think that their stores should not sell cigarettes. Approximately 42 percent of the pharmacies sell alcoholic beverages while more than two-thirds of the pharmacists (68%) think pharmacies should not sell alcoholic beverages. These findings represent a decline of 7.2 percent in pharmacies that sell cigarettes and a 6.8 percent increase in pharmacies selling alcoholic beverages compared to the 1990 study. Study results also revealed that most pharmacists agree the use of cigarettes and alcohol were important causes of morbidity and mortality and that pharmacists should play a role in health promotion and disease prevention to the public. However, the majority do not ask their patients about their smoking and alcohol habits and do not participate in health education/promotion programs for the general community.

Public opinion on tobacco use, its taxes and public policy.

Public opinion is an important vehicle in shaping legislative efforts and public policy related to tobacco use and related taxes. This study examined public opinion about policy related to tobacco use and raising tobacco taxes in a Midwestern state. The American Lung Association of Indiana provided a grant to sponsor this project. A structured questionnaire was developed, field tested and revised for the final data collection procedure. A sample of 800 adult subjects was randomly selected and telephone interviewed by the Indiana University Center for Survey Research. The collected data were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics. The data revealed a good representative sample of adult males and females for various age groups and socioeconomic backgrounds. Among other findings, 29% were currently smokers, 23% were former smokers, and 47.5% never smoked. More than 90% support a requirement that public places have nonsmoking areas. About 85% favor an increase in cigarette taxes to pay for health education and tobacco-related research. The relationship of the subjects' gender, education and income to their opinion about the various aspects of tobacco, taxes and related policies were examined.