RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To assess the extent of appropriate counseling provided to patients by pharmacists and nonpharmacists in retail settings regarding herbal dietary supplements for weight loss. DESIGN: Descriptive, exploratory, nonexperimental study. SETTING: Phoenix, AZ, metropolitan area, from June 2008 to January 2009. PARTICIPANTS: Pharmacists and nonpharmacists (e.g., cashiers, sales clerks, pharmacy technicians) working in retail locations selling herbal dietary supplements (e.g., grocery stores, health food stores, pharmacies). INTERVENTION: Investigators posing as patients sought herbal weight loss supplement product recommendations and counseling on potential safety, drug interaction, and adverse effect issues from pharmacists or nonpharmacists. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Level of knowledge regarding safety and efficacy of herbal dietary supplements for weight loss. RESULTS: 52 sites were visited, and 27 unique product recommendations were given. In general, counseling provided to investigators/patients by pharmacists versus nonpharmacists varied significantly (P < 0.05) except when participants were asked about expected weight loss (P = 0.39) or use of herbal supplements during pregnancy (P = 0.07) and breast-feeding (P = 0.48). Pharmacists were more reluctant to recommend herbal products for weight loss than nonpharmacists and tended to question the safety and/or efficacy of these products or refer the patient to an alternate health care provider. CONCLUSION: The counseling that investigators/patients received regarding herbal products for weight loss in various retail settings from both pharmacists and non-pharmacists varied greatly. Efforts are needed from the medical and herbal communities to ensure that patients are adequately informed about herbal products at the point of purchase.
