Document Detail


Comparison of verbal claims for natural health products made by health food stores staff versus pharmacists in Ontario, Canada.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  17038760     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: This study tested the hypothesis that while there are no written medical claims existing for many NHP, such claims are made verbally, giving a false impression that these are proven medical products. OBJECTIVE: To compare the number and type of verbal claims for NHP made by pharmacists to those made by health food stores personnel. METHODS: Randomly selected Canadian pharmacies selling NHP and health food stores were visited and the staff was asked to recommend natural health products for the treatment of hypertension. RESULTS: All health food stores (n=20) but only 4 out of 38 pharmacies (p< 0.001) recommended NHP for the treatment of hypertension. A majority of health food store staff (70%) stated that NHP are superior or equal to medicinal drugs in treating hypertension based on efficacy. CONCLUSION: Unlike pharmacy practice, verbal claims are common practice in health food stores, despite the lack of either written claims and/or proof of efficacy for most of them. These may be a very effective approach given that 30-40% of North American adults are functionally illiterate. These verbal claims are often inappropriate and not evidence-based.
Authors:
Gideon Koren; Dana Oren; Maud Rouleau; Daphna Carmeli; Doreen Matsui
Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2006-08-31
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Canadian journal of clinical pharmacology = Journal canadien de pharmacologie clinique     Volume:  13     ISSN:  1710-6222     ISO Abbreviation:  Can J Clin Pharmacol     Publication Date:  2006  
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2006-10-13     Completed Date:  2006-10-26     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9804162     Medline TA:  Can J Clin Pharmacol     Country:  Canada    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  e251-6     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada. gkoren@uwo.ca
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Adult
Age Distribution
Aged
Canada / epidemiology
Drug Labeling / statistics & numerical data*
Female
Food Labeling / statistics & numerical data*
Health Status
Humans
Logistic Models
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Middle Aged
Naturopathy / utilization*
Population Surveillance / methods*
Prevalence
Sex Distribution
Social Class

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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