A description of patients presenting with minor illness in community pharmacies in southern Chile

Abstract

Objective: To describe the characteristics of patients presenting with minor illness in community pharmacies in southern Chile. Setting: The study was carried out in three community pharmacies belonging to a major chain in the south of Chile, during eight consecutive days in each pharmacy between June and July 2003. Method: A questionnaire was designed and completed, by a pharmacy student, who observed patients suffering from any of the eight symptoms or conditions of nasal congestion, cough, dysmenorrhoea, head lice, diarrhoea, constipation, heartburn and acne, attending the sample community pharmacies during the observation period. Key findings: A total of 678 presentations was registered, the patients were mainly female (64.9%) and adults (68.8%). In almost half (46.2%) of the presentations, the patients sought help for the symptom of cough. The sex of the patients was associated with the condition presented, but not the kind of attention sought. Females, more frequently than males