Anissa Schneider-Ziebe Untersuchung versorgungsrelevanter Aspekte in der Apotheke im Kontext der Selbstmedikation

About this book

How good is community pharmacy counselling in Germany – and what potential remains untapped?

This dissertation provides a scientifically rigorous yet practice-oriented answer to this important question. It focuses on community pharmacy counselling in the context of self-medication. Millions of people manage minor health conditions on their own, with the community pharmacy often serving as their first and often only point of contact. This makes high-quality, evidence-based counselling tailored to patients' needs even more important.

Based on a comprehensive literature review and a consumer survey, this study develops a model of what constitutes high-quality pharmacy counselling. It then compares this ideal standard with consumers' real-life experiences. This systematic gap analysis reveals where pharmacy counselling already performs well and where significant opportunities for further improvement remain.

The findings are both insightful and highly relevant to practice. Consumers report a high level of trust in community pharmacies and are generally satisfied with the counselling they receive. At the same time, clear discrepancies emerge between their expectations and their actual experiences. The greatest potential for improvement lies in the collection of relevant patient information and the measures taken during the counselling process. The dissertation systematically analyses these gaps and derives practical recommendations for enhancing the quality of pharmacy counselling.

Going beyond a simple assessment of the current situation, the book demonstrates how high-quality, evidence-based counselling can improve the safe and effective use of self-medication, strengthen the role of community pharmacies within ambulatory healthcare, and create new opportunities for innovative Rx-to-OTC switches. It also highlights the potential health-economic benefits of improving self-medication practices.

Combining scientific excellence with practical relevance, this dissertation is intended for researchers, pharmacists, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and all those interested in advancing the quality of pharmacy counselling and the future of responsible self-medication. It offers valuable insights and practical recommendations for shaping the future of community pharmacy practice and patient-centred self-care.