Professional competence of pharmacists in recommending Flomax relief MR (tamsulosin) to men with lower urinary tract symptoms

Abstract

This paper aimed to determine the role of a pharmacy tool, the symptoms-check questionnaire, in supporting pharmacists' recommendations for treatment with Flomax Relief MR (tamsulosin) and to assess its acceptability to men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) who present in a pharmacy to purchase tamsulosin. Concludes that, with training and guidance, pharmacists are professionally competent to advise patients on the self-management of LUTS, and that consumers view them as adequately trained and qualified for this role. The symptoms-check questionnaire enables pharmacists to identify red flag symptoms and contraindications, in addition to establishing that the symptoms are sufficiently severe to warrant pharmacological treatment.