Objective: To reach consensus on entry-to-practice natural health product (NHP)-related competency statements for Canadian pharmacy students.
Methods: Four rounds of a modified Delphi method were conducted. Participants; pharmacy educators,and representatives from Canadian pharmacy organizations (n=17), ranked their level of agreement using a 5-point Likert scale.
Results: Consensus occurred when all participants ranked a statement 4 or 5. Three core NHP-related competencies were identified: 1) the ability to incorporate NHP knowledge when providing pharmaceutical care; 2) the ability to access and critically appraise NHP-related information sources, and 3) the ability to provide appropriate education to patients and other health care providers on the effectiveness and potential adverse effects and drug interactions of NHPs. Two additional NHP-related competency statements emerged as important, but consensus was not achieved.
Conclusions: If the developed core NHP-related competency statements are widely implemented, Canadian pharmacists will be able to fulfill their NHP-related professional responsibilities upon entry-to-practice.MAS
