Abstract des Autors

Objective: To examine the doping knowledge and attitude of pharmacists, this with a view to improving the effectiveness of prevention campaigns. Methods: Three hundred French retail pharmacists randomly selected and interviewed by telephone, using a prepared script. Main results: Response rate was 66% (103 males and 95 females, mean age 43.4+/-8.4 years). Of our respondents, 25% have been confronted with doping over the last 12 months, either for the purpose of providing information on a product or providing the product itself. Six percent of pharmacists confirm that they have received financial or other proposals to supply doping agents to groups of athletes (e.g., a club). Forty-two percent of pharmacists consider that the use of food supplements may lead the user to take doping agents. According to 88% of respondents, doping is a public health problem. Ninety-one percent said a pharmacist has a role to play in doping prevention, but 74%, however, consider themselves badly or very badly prepared to do so. Conclusions: This survey suggests that pharmacists do have the desire to take part in doping prevention, but fail to have the general knowledge and skills required to be effective in doping prevention. Verf.-Referat