Use of non-prescription advice offered to the public by community pharmacists

A study was undertaken to establish whether members of the public use the specific advice offered by community pharmacists relating to minor ailments and non‐prescription medicines. Conversations between pharmacists and clients discussing symptoms and researcher‐client interviews were recorded and transcribed. Ninety‐eight clients who had sought advice either for themselves or someone in their care were interviewed by telephone using a structured instrument. While pharmacists offered a mean of 13.7 information items per client, only 3.3 were later recalled (24 per cent). Clients were more likely to recall procedural advice (P