Three-quarters of men do not discuss their health with pharmacists, report finds

Three-quarters of men do not discuss their health with pharmacists despite 92% of them regularly using a pharmacy, a new report has found.

The report by the Men’s Health Forum said that men’s reluctance to seek advice from pharmacists is driven by discomfort discussing health in a retail space, a lack of privacy, a preference for GPs, and concerns about being sold to rather than cared for.

More than half of the 1,675 men surveyed (57%) reported that failing to seek advice had negative impacts on their life, including missed work and strained personal relationships.

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And only one-in-four (25%) said they would speak to a pharmacist when they have a question or concern, with men aged 35-44 the most likely to speak to a pharmacist about their health.

However, more than a quarter of men said they would be willing to talk to a pharmacist if they knew the conversation was private and that they could be referred to the NHS if needed.

The launch of the An Unfilled Prescription report coincides with Men’s Health Week, which began on Monday and is designed to give all boys and men access to the information, services and treatment they need to live healthier lives.

The report, supported by global consumer health company Opella, sets out five things pharmacies can do to better engage with men. These are:

• Create a welcoming space by offering a private consulting room to ensure confidentiality;
• Appoint a ‘men’s health champion’ trained in discussing men’s health issues;
• Introduce dedicated services such ‘men’s health MOTs’ and other tailored check-ups;
• Review opening hours and implement online booking systems to offer flexibility and discretion; and
• Reach out to men in the local community rather than waiting for them to ask for help.

Nick Linton, UK head of Opella, said: ‘Community pharmacies are the frontline of our health service, and we are committed to supporting them. We welcome these recommendations, which provide clear, actionable guidance.

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‘Ensuring pharmacy meets its full potential will require a collaborative effort across government, regulators, and companies like Opella, and we are ready to play our part.’

As part of the new research, 250 pharmacists staff were also surveyed and almost one-pharmacist-in-five (18%) said they did not have a private space for consultations.

More than a third (36%) said that better education on self-care and health literacy for boys at school would help them to better support men’s health.

Superintendent pharmacist at Pharmacy2U, Phil Day, said: ‘Men's Health Week is a reminder that one of the biggest barriers to better male health outcomes is conversation.

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‘Pharmacists, whether high street or online, are qualified clinicians who are ready to have those conversations with no judgment. Men’s Health Week is right to identify the positive frontline role they can play in encouraging more men to engage with primary health care.

‘At Pharmacy2U we see our online doctor service as the chance to meet men where they already are, make it easy to talk, and give them the support they need.’