Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Mental Health: Assessment of Pharmacists’ Knowledge and Educational Needs

Introduction: There has been a growing interest in Omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) for mental/cognitive health. Cognitive impairment, a global problem affecting millions of people, is frequent among elderly, and it influences the individual’s ability to function independently. Omega-3 FAs are natural health products (NHPs), and pharmacists are the front-line healthcare practitioners who provide counselling to patients. Purpose: To identify the current knowledge status of pharmacists on Omega-3 FA NHPs and their confidence levels in counselling patients on these products via a study done in pharmacies in Ontario, Canada. Methods: To identify areas for improvement we assessed knowledge and understanding of Omega-3 FA NHPs of community and hospital pharmacists via a survey. Results: Seventy-six percent of pharmacists were enquired about Omega-3 FA at least once per month. Pharmacists have good knowledge of Omega-3 chemistry, major components, and differences between Omega-3 and -6 FAs. Sixty-four percent of responders identified brain health as benefits; the other health benefits are less widely recognized. Sixty percent of pharmacists were concerned about the increased risk of bleeding; however, only 6% felt confident in counselling patients on Omega-3 FA NHPs. Previous training on Omega-3 was associated with better knowledge of Omega-3 and had positive impact on pharmacists’ confidence in counselling. Conclusion: There are gaps in pharmacist’s current knowledge on Omega-3 FA health benefits and there is unsatisfactory confidence in providing patient counselling. Thus, there is a need for comprehensive education on Omega-3 FA NHPs in addition to traditional medical, naturopathic, and pharmacy formal education.