Today

Dr Ian Banks, president of the Men's Health Forum, looks at how pharmacies can make their services and premises more attractive to men.

"There is a large volume of anecdotal evidence that men are reluctant users of pharmacy services and certainly use them far less than women. So the Men's Health Forum is actively supporting the government's policy that pharmacies should consider how they can make their services and premises more attractive to men.

The government has recently called for pharmacy services to be promoted and developed as a source of advice for men and we welcome this. An enhanced role for pharmacy services is one important part of the process of improving men’s health.

Men under use pharmacies relative to other groups. Yet pharmacies are precisely the kind of service men could access in far greater numbers. Pharmacies tend to be anonymous, confidential and easily accessible, which are features that appeal to many men.

Pharmacy services could, for instance, provide a range of diagnostic tests, for conditions such as chlamydia, hypertension and diabetes.

In particular, pharmacy services could provide:

- A source of health information for men, through one-to-one discussions, making leaflets available, providing a point of access to web-based services, etc.

- A source of health advice for men in relation to prescription and over-the-counter medicines and lifestyle issues such as smoking, alcohol use, weight management, physical activity, etc. Pharmacy services could also provide ongoing support for men attempting lifestyle changes.

- A triage service, directing men to the best available source of help. There is evidence that men are more likely to access GP services if they have been advised to do so by another health professional.

- A means of accessing simple diagnostic tests for use at home. Pharmacy services could provide either free of charge or by sale a range of diagnostic tests, e.g. for chlamydia, high cholesterol, diabetes, etc. It is likely that many men are more likely to use such tests when they are easily available rather than when they are accessible though an appointment at a GP surgery.

- 'MOT' checks for men. As well as providing diagnostic tests for men to use at home, pharmacies could offer on-site check-ups. These sorts of check-ups are popular with many men and tend to detect a significant number of cases of hypertension, diabetes, weight problems, etc. They also offer an opportunity for general lifestyle advice and enable men to raise other health concerns they might have. Pharmacists could also offer such check-ups to men off-site at community venues used by men (e.g. working men's clubs, sports clubs, even pubs and barbers' shops).

- As a first step, the government should undertake a marketing strategy to ensure that men are attracted to use pharmacies. Pharmacies, themselves, should change their appearance to display men's products more prominently. Their product displays often give the impression that they are a service primarily for women."