Pharmacies situated in Gothenburg, Sweden, were selected based on a list from the Medical Products Agency. A request for participation was made to the regional managers of the six largest pharmacy companies in Gothenburg. One of the regional managers did not respond, which resulted in 53 eligible pharmacies from 5 pharmacy companies. Every pharmacy manager was asked for permission

to distribute the questionnaire to their staff, through an e-mail giving information learn more about the study. Two declined participation, 5 were excluded because of no response at all from the pharmacy manager, and an additional 2 were excluded because of too few, ie, 1 or 2, employees. After approval, all pharmacy managers were e-mailed regarding a contact person at the pharmacy and a suitable date for distribution of the questionnaire. The study subjects included all pharmacy staff with permission to give advice to customers on OTC medication (pharmacists, dispensing pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and other counseling staff). Pharmacists

have a master of science degree (5 years of university education), and dispensing pharmacists have 2–3 years of university education. Pharmacy technicians have 1–2 years of vocational training. Other counseling staff have a few weeks’ internal counseling training, conducted through educational CP-868596 in vitro programs implemented by the different pharmacy companies. Responsibilities differ among the different professional categories, where pharmacists and dispensing pharmacists are the only ones who have permission to dispense prescription medications.

Data were collected during the fall of 2012. A total of 326 questionnaires were distributed. The questionnaires were distributed together with response envelopes and participant information, 1 per counseling staff member at each pharmacy. The questionnaires were placed in each staff member’s personal compartment at the pharmacy or given to the contact person at the pharmacy. In addition, a box for anonymous collection of completed questionnaires was left at every pharmacy in a suitable place. After 2 weeks, new questionnaires were distributed to each pharmacy as a reminder for those who had not yet responded. The questionnaires were anonymous, selleck chemicals llc and no single response could be identified, nor could the pharmacy company be identified. Hence, no information was collected for non-responders. The study protocol was approved by the Regional Ethical Review Board in Gothenburg (registration number 531-11). The questionnaire included background questions on sex, age, and professional category, number of years since graduation/completed education, and number of years working in a pharmacy. Pharmacy technicians and other counseling staff were merged into one group called “counseling staff.