Poll: Consumers like you, they really like you (well, those who know about you)

The results of a new national poll conducted for the Pharmacy Compounding Foundation by Embold Research brings to light several important perspectives about what Americans know about pharmacy compounding — and what they think of it.

First, those people who are familiar with pharmacy compounding overwhelmingly support it, especially allowing compounding pharmacies to prepare copies of an FDA-approved drug when that drug is in shortage. (Not surprisingly, the vast majority have had positive experiences with compounding.)

But the survey — which included 1,222 adults nationwide — also reveals a lack of awareness about the industry itself, not to mention its strict regulatory and quality standards. For example, only 42% of adults are familiar with pharmacy compounding, 29% didn’t know what compounding was, and 29% said they were unsure about what it is. And, despite compounding being strictly regulated at the state and federal levels, nearly a third of respondents (31%) said they didn’t know about those regulations.

While it was good to see that 87% knew that compounded medications had to be prescribed, the public’s lack of knowledge of compounding pharmacy’s role in the healthcare system was telling. 

It’s clear we've still got education work to do, especially to combat the dangerous efforts by drug manufacturers to conflate compounded drugs with illegal fakes. That means we need to use this opportunity to work with healthcare professionals to educate patients about pharmacy compounding — we need to ensure continued confidence in the safety and effectiveness of compounded therapies.

You can read our press release here, or check out the key findings from the survey.