Abstract / Summary
Abstract Background Community pharmacies in the United Kingdom are increasingly recognised as accessible providers of primary care. Recent policy initiatives, including Pharmacy First, have expanded pharmacists’ roles in managing common conditions traditionally seen in general practice. However, contemporary evidence regarding parental use of pharmacies for child health remains limited. Objective To examine patterns of parental pharmacy use for child health, identify trusted sources of advice and assess demographic and behavioural predictors of pharmacy advice-seeking, trust and willingness to use pharmacy-delivered services. Methods A quota-based cross-sectional online survey of UK parents and caregivers (n = 545) was conducted as part of the Pharmacy PITCH project. Participants completed a 17-item questionnaire examining pharmacy use, advice-seeking behaviour, confidence in pharmacist-delivered advice, trust in pharmacy information and attitudes towards enhanced pharmacy services. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariable regression analyses were performed. Results Over half of respondents (55%) visited pharmacies at least monthly. Prescriptions (72%) and self-care medicines (54%) were the most common reasons for attendance, while 35% sought pharmacist advice. Pharmacies were most consulted for colds (32%), sore throat (34%) and skin rash (29%). Confidence in pharmacist advice was highest for self-limiting respiratory conditions (74–79%) and lowest for injuries (40–51%). Older respondents were more likely to seek pharmacy advice (OR 4.50, 95% CI 1.97–10.28 for age 55–64 vs 18–24), whereas males were less likely (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.29–0.75). Willingness to vaccinate children at a pharmacy was high (88.5%) and associated with prior pharmacy advice-seeking behaviour. Conclusions UK parents frequently use community pharmacies for common childhood conditions and report substantial confidence in pharmacist-delivered advice. These findings support ongoing expansion of pharmacy-based paediatric minor illness and vaccination services within UK primary care.