New FIP handbook offers guidance for pharmacists on supporting self-care

The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) has released a handbook today (February 23) on guidance for pharmacists on supporting self-care.

The handbook, “Empowering self-care: A handbook for pharmacists”, covers six areas of self-care – sore throat, gastrointestinal complaints, musculoskeletal pain, fever in children, sexual health and disinfection.

Commenting on the release, Rúben Viegas, co-author of the handbook, said: Community pharmacists already help people in self-care by giving advice on non-prescription medicines, nutrition, physical activity and lifestyle choices, but this new resource from FIP offers added support for these professional services that demonstrate our profession’s commitment to primary health care.”

The publication, also intended as an advocacy resource for FIP’s member organisations, discusses latest trends and strategies in self-care and explores innovations adopted across several practice areas.

It aims to provide pharmacists with concise guidance on coaching practices and person-centred approaches to promote self-care.

Viegas said: “Self-care is an increasingly important component of health care, with further growth during the Covid-19 pandemic, significant implications for health systems and resources, and a potentially huge contribution to universal health coverage.

“With this handbook, we want to support and engage the front-line pharmacy workforce to overcome the obstacles to self-care, which include regulatory barriers and low health literacy”.

The handbook is FIP’s latest resource in the area of self-care.