Perceptions and experiences of community pharmacists about weight loss dietary supplements: a qualitative study

Obesity is a global, complex, multifactorial disease that poses a direct threat to human health. Many dietary-supplements (DS) are marketed for weight loss. Despite the high demand for DS by obese individuals, the effectiveness and safety of most products are subjected to substantial controversy. To explore the perceptions and experiences of pharmacists about weight loss DS (WLDS). A qualitative study was conducted in Wassit, Iraq, using face-to-face, individual interviews with pharmacists with ≥ 6 months of working-experience in community pharmacies. Interviews were conducted till reaching the saturation point. Data were analyzed by thematic-analysis approach. Interviews were conducted with 25 pharmacists. Most participating pharmacists considered WLDS to be ineffective with questionable safety and quality. Most participants believed that the rate of prescribing WLDS is high especially for patients suffering from infertility and chronic diseases. Two-thirds of study participants were neglecting patient-education about the dispensed WLDS. Patient-education when done is mainly limited to discussing the product side effects. The majority of participating pharmacists did not receive education or training about DS. To enhance pharmaceutical care for customers using WLDS, pharmacists emphasized the need for rigorous assessments of product efficacy, safety, and quality before marketing, along with improved patient education efforts. Participating pharmacists reported that WLDS products are most commonly prescribed for patients with infertility and chronic diseases due to non-medical factors. Pharmacists express concerns about WLDS, highlighting the need for rigorous assessments before marketing. Gaps in pharmacists’ patient education roles necessitate targeted training focused on enhancing communication skills, evidence-based counseling, and awareness of WLDS risks to improve patient outcomes.