Pharmacy techs could play a larger role in safe use of complementary medicines

Traditional and complementary medicines are used by more than 50% of the population in some countries. These products, which encompass vitamins, minerals, herbs, essential oils and homeopathic preparations, are usually self-selected by patients in retail outlets, including pharmacies. In recent data from nine countries, 69% of 2,341 pharmacists reported that traditional and complementary medicine use is prevalent in the communities they serve.1Pharmacists generally agree that they should play a greater role in ensuring the appropriate and safe use of traditional and complementary medicines; however, they often lack the time and resources to do so.1 A recent published commentary proposes that pharmacy technicians, properly trained and equipped with relevant and useful technology, are a possible solution to enable the pharmacy profession to provide guidance to patients about the appropriate and safe use of traditional and complementary medicines, particularly in the community setting.1The commentary argues that pharmacy technicians already play a crucial role in the pharmacy workforce, fulfilling a variety of tasks essential for the efficient functioning of pharmacies. They played valuable roles in providing vaccination services during the pandemic and continue to do so post-pandemic. Other technician roles include managing patient appointments and pharmacy consultations, administering patient self-report tools, collecting comprehensive medication histories from patients, collecting clinical data needed to appropriately dose and monitor medications, and even more advanced roles requiring greater professional judgment, such as performing medication reconciliation during transitions of care.1 Pharmacy technicians also ensure safe dispensing of medications. They also mitigate and triage problems, as well as assist pharmacists and patients with the selection and delivery of point-of-care testing.1 Many of the procedural and communication skills pharmacy technicians use in their various roles could be applied to the provision of advice on traditional and complementary medicines. To do this, however, technicians would have to be supported with technology and provided with basic education on traditional and complementary medicines.1The commentary proposes the development of a triaging process supported by technology for point-of-sale prompts, which would guide technicians to ask patients about traditional and complementary medicine use. This could be combined with access to up-to-date reputable resources on traditional and complementary medicines that provide information on adverse effects and potential disease or drug interactions. When a potential interaction is identified, or an adverse effect is suspected, a referral to a pharmacist could then be made. Developing such a process would reduce overall time-burden for pharmacists, while also fulfilling their responsibility to ensure the traditional and complementary medicine products sold in their pharmacy are accompanied by advice to help ensure safe use.1 Related to their work in publishing this commentary, the authors plan to submit a grant application to the Australian Federal Government. It will propose an intervention to train pharmacy technicians to handle alerts arising from patient/consumer purchases of certain complementary medicines that have potential drug interactions with prescription meds, which will then trigger consultation from a pharmacist.2SummaryWith supportive technology and increased education, pharmacy technicians could have considerable opportunity to play a role in providing advice about traditional and complementary medicines and triaging the need for pharmacists’ intervention where harm or risk is identified.References:Desselle SP, Ung COL, Harnett JE. Could pharmacy technicians play a role in supporting the appropriate and safe use of traditional and complementary medicines? Res Social Adm Pharm 2024; published online February 28, 2024. (accessed April 9, 2024).Desselle SP, Associate Dean for Research and Professional Affairs, College of Pharmacy, Touro University, California. Personal email communication, April 4, 2024.

Pharmacy techs could play a larger role in safe use of complementary medicines

Register for free access or login.

Related Topics