Social aspects & influences on pharmacy practice

Question 1

What social factors influence pharmacy practice?

as ‘health’ changes pharmacy practice also changes…

Answer 1

1. Management of chronic conditions is becoming more prevalent (over acute)
2. Prevention and promotion of health more of a priority
3. Extensive information & misinformation available online
4. Battling health inequities
5. The social functions of medicines & what the public believes about prescription medicines
6. Health literacy of the public
7. demographics and health inequities in public

so types of screenings available and who its marketed towards; how pharmacists’ approach / communicate with clients

Question 2

What social groups affect pharmacy practice?

Answer 2

1. public
2. pharmaceutical society
3. pharmacy council
4. government
5. other health professionals

More detailed examples: desire of practitioners, accepted practice, legal and ethical obligations, competence Standards, demographics of population, government policies

Question 3

What are the social functions of medicines?

Answer 3

• therapeutic function
• placebo function
• coping function
• self-regulatory function
• social control function
• recreational function + religious
• cosmetic
• appetitive
• instrumental
• sexual
• fertility
• research
• diagnostic
• status conferring.