Pharmacists and medicines counter assistants (MCAs) have “complementary” roles in managing undiagnosed, symptomatic skin diseases, according to the International Journal of Pharmacy Practice. In particular, MCAs screen patients and provide information to pharmacists who decide on management.

Rod Tucker and Derek Stewart from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, interviewed 10 pharmacists and 15 MCAs from seven pharmacies. Pharmacists said that two key themes defined their role: triage and reassurance. MCAs defined their role as information gatherers and independent advisers.

Pharmacists and MCAs said that patients with undiagnosed skin problems used pharmacies because of their convenience and GPs’ inaccessibility, and because they regarded dermatological conditions as non-serious. MCAs also believed that patients’ familiarity with the pharmacist was important.

The scope of self-care due to the wide range of dermatological products available was also important, although the high cost of some treatments presented a barrier. Pharmacists and MCAs admitted that their lack of dermatological knowledge was another barrier, and reported having insufficient time to deal effectively with patients.

Some conditions’ anatomical location and, according to MCAs, the potential for misdiagnosis also presented potential barriers.