Pain is a common and debilitating condition requiring appropriate assessment and\nmanagement. The consequences of inadequate treatment of pain is well known; however, research\ninvestigating pain management practices and the benefits Australian community pharmacies offer\nin pain management are more limited. This study investigated the knowledge and practices of\nAustralian adults experiencing pain, and their views of community pharmacy pain management\nservices. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a pre-tested anonymous self-administered\nquestionnaire. Participants were recruited from ten community pharmacies across metropolitan\nMelbourne, Australia. A total of 120 participants completed the questionnaire. Most reported that\ntheir pain interfered with their quality/functionality-of-life. Paracetamol was the pharmacological\npreference irrespective of pain severity experienced. Approximately 30% did not believe that visiting\na community pharmacy is helpful in pain management, but many reported their pain management\nknowledge could be improved, yet more than 60% disagreed when asked whether they would\nrather visit a supermarket than their pharmacy to purchase analgesics. More than half believed that\ncommunity pharmacies can and should offer more pain management services. This suggests that\nenhancing the involvement of community pharmacists can help bridge gaps in pain management\nknowledge, which may provide greater positive outcomes for patients experiencing pain symptoms.
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