A new resource has been released to aid community pharmacists in supporting people to manage sore throat.
Intended as a “quick reference guide for pharmacists”, it covers causes, triage, and pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments, and it provides links to further resources.
International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) practice development and transformation projects coordinator Rúben Viegas said sore throat was a common condition that was usually self-limiting.
“Pharmacists can support its management through a range of products and services, thereby avoiding unnecessary visits to general practitioners,” he said.
Sore throat is one of the most common upper respiratory tract infections for which antibiotics are used inappropriately.
In particular, the new FIP resource covers point-of-care tests for streptococcus, which are increasingly being used by pharmacists in some countries.
“Research has shown that such point-of-care testing has been successful in reducing the prescribing of antibiotics, and thus could be a useful aid for pharmacists in performing an antimicrobial stewardship role,” Mr Viegas said.
The guide is intended as an add-on to FIP’s 2021 publication “Empowering self-care: A handbook for pharmacists”.
“Self-care is a fundamental pillar of universal health coverage due to the important role it plays in the sustainability of health systems.
“This quick reference guide highlights sore throat as a condition for which pharmacists are ideally placed to support informed self-care, delivering substantial impact, and empowering patients to make better health choices and lead healthier lives,” Mr Viegas said.
This new FIP resource also includes six short videos on sore throat management in the community.
