To assess the knowledge, training, and prevention resources related to chemsex among community pharmacy professionals in France, highlighting its significance in public health.
Key Findings:
80% of respondents had heard of chemsex, but only 67% could provide a definition, indicating a significant knowledge gap.
Only 11% learned about chemsex through formal education, underscoring the need for improved training.
Mean knowledge score was 13.8 out of 29, reflecting inadequate understanding.
69% could not manage potential chemsex-related drug interactions, which poses risks to patient safety.
Only 6% could identify a clinically relevant interaction, highlighting a critical area for training.
88% rated available prevention information for patients as poor, indicating a lack of resources.
57% suggested professional training as a strategy for improvement, emphasizing the need for targeted educational initiatives.
Interpretation:
Community pharmacy staff exhibit significant knowledge gaps regarding chemsex, which could adversely impact their ability to provide effective counseling and support for at-risk patients.
Limitations:
Cross-sectional design and self-reported data may introduce bias.
Convenience and snowball sampling may not represent the broader pharmacy workforce, potentially underestimating knowledge gaps.
The newly developed questionnaire lacked full psychometric validation, which may affect the reliability of the findings.
Stigma surrounding chemsex may have influenced respondents' willingness to disclose their knowledge and experiences.
Conclusion:
There is a critical need for enhanced training and resources for community pharmacy staff to better address chemsex-related issues and improve patient care, emphasizing the urgency of these improvements.
