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Nutritional intake of opioid replacement therapy patients in community pharmacies: A pilot study
Author(s) -
Waddington Freya,
Naunton Mark,
Kyle Greg,
Cooper Gabrielle
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
nutrition and dietetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.479
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1747-0080
pISSN - 1446-6368
DOI - 10.1111/1747-0080.12192
Subject(s) - medicine , pharmacy , dosing , pharmacist , micronutrient , population , community pharmacy , family medicine , environmental health , pathology
Aim Opioid replacement therapy ( ORT ) is an established therapy for a patient group that has been associated with nutrition‐related comorbidities. This paper aims to assess the nutritional intake and supplementation in ORT patients, determine the extent of nutritional/dietary advice supplied to ORT patients and to briefly examine patients' perception of pharmacists' provision of nutritional advice. Methods The nutritional intake of ORT patients receiving treatment in community pharmacies within the A ustralian C apital T erritory was assessed via a 24‐hour recall survey. Food intake data were analysed via nutrient analysis software and compared with A ustralian N utrition R eference V alues and the nutrient intakes of the A ustralian population. Patients were surveyed to determine supplement use and perceptions of nutritional advice gained by pharmacists. Results Potential insufficient intake of various macronutrients and micronutrients was observed in both sexes. Less than 25% of patients recorded supplement use. Fifteen percent of males and 21% of females stated that they had approached a pharmacist with a nutrition‐related query. All patients who received nutritional advice followed the advice. Conclusions ORT patients dosing at community pharmacies appear to have poor nutritional intake. ORT patients appear to be receptive to pharmacist's advice. Community pharmacists can potentially increase the beneficial health outcomes in this population through the proactive supply of accurate nutritional advice.