Abstract
M. Tech.
Complementary and alternative therapies (CAM) have become increasingly widespread
in countries throughout the world in recent years. Alternative medications, including
homoeopathic, are now commonly available for purchase from pharmacies, health
shops and even supermarkets in South Africa. Due to this, pharmacists particularly, as
the point of first contact for members of the public, have an increased responsibility
towards their patients to have a certain working knowledge of these products. However,
pharmacists receive little training of this nature during their formal education. Their
consequent lack of understanding about homoeopathy may be detrimental to the
optimal health management of patients by pharmacists, as well as to the growth of the
homoeopathic and alternative medicine industries in South Africa (Montagne, 1997).
The aim of this research was to establish the perceptions of homoeopathy among
professional pharmacists and qualified pharmacists' assistants in the Greater
Johannesburg area. The information gained is intended to provide valuable baseline
information about how homoeopathy is viewed by these professionals and to provide a
framework for further research in other geographic areas of South Africa. This
information may also be helpful in the development of future homoeopathic education
programmes for the pharmaceutical industry.
A sample group of 50 pharmacists and pharmacists' assistants working in retail
pharmacies in the Greater Johannesburg area were randomly invited to complete a
written survey regarding their personal and professional perceptions of homoeopathy.
Twenty seven fully qualified pharmacists and 23 pharmacists' assistants completed the
survey between the 25 October 2007 and the 16 January 2008.
The results indicated that in some respects there are differences of opinion between
pharmacists and pharmacy assistants with regard to issues surrounding homoeopathy,
as well as between people who have been qualified for different lengths of time. The
results however, reflect a general trend toward acceptance and interest in homoeopathy
in the pharmacy profession. There was little statistical difference between the answers
given by male and female participants, or participants from different racial groups.