Objective: The aim of this study was to ascertain information on supplements and health foods desired by consumers, as well as consumer demands in pharmacies and drugstores.
Method: We conducted a questionnaire survey of 740 patrons of two drugstores. And data from this questionnaire survey was analyzed by simple and cross tables.
Results: We received responses from 206 patrons (response rate: 27.8%). The level of recognition that some supplements should not be taken by consumers with past illnesses was low among those who are older than 50 years. Furthermore, the percentage of the population that does not recognize the possibility of interactions between supplements was higher. In addition, it was suggested that, regardless of the low recognition level, consumers did not try to improve their knowledge by obtaining more information. People who take supplements to improve dietary imbalances were found to have a strong desire for a short course in pharmacies and drugstores, and they also desire supplement advisers to be available at each drugstore in comparison with people who don’t select the choice “to improve dietary imbalances”.
Conclusion: Thus, the present findings suggest that the level of consumers’ knowledge and their desired information differ depending on age. Furthermore, consumers’ demands in pharmacies and drugstores differ depending on consumers’ intent to take supplements. Therefore, it is important for pharmacists to provide information that is useful for individual consumers in consideration of consumers’ age and intent, and pharmacists must be able to independently identify consumers’ needs.
