The Viewpoint of Community Pharmacists about Their Professional Role in Dispensing Beauty Products: A Study from Western Region of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Community pharmacists play a significant role in dispensing and counseling about medications and pharmaceuticals including beauty and cosmetic products. Aims and Objectives: The current study was conducted to assess the viewpoint of community pharmacists in the Western region of Saudi Arabia about their professional role in dispensing beauty products. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between September and December 2019 using an online questionnaire. Expert professors from college of pharmacy, Taif University validated the questionnaire. Results: Five hundred seventy-seven community pharmacists completed the questionnaire. Most of the participants were male (99%) and aged 23 - 34 years old (71.1%). Slightly less than half (45.58%) of community pharmacists have 6 - 10 years of experience. Most pharmacists (96.9%) communicate directly with customers/ patients and most of them (85.3%) ask and counsel patients about their product. Pharmacists strongly agreed that pharmacists must keep in developing their communication skills with customers/patients. Conclusion: Most of the community pharmacists surveyed in this study reported a good perceived knowledge and attitudes and demonstrated an acceptable level of practices regarding beauty products. Saudi FDA is encouraged to adopt Good Pharmacy Practice standards and guidelines to improve current practice of community pharmacists concerning Beauty Products.