earticle

영어

Purpose of this study was to analyze consumer behavior in the purchase of taurine-containing health supplements and to find out pharmacist's role to ensure safe use of health functional foods. A survey analysis was performed with a hundred consumers who visited community pharmacies. TV advertisement was the major information source for consumers and it was the most powerful direct reason for purchasing a specific brand of the taurine-containing product. This trend was more prominent in firm employed young male adult who were less than 40 years old. Interestingly, however, in-depth analysis revealed that small business owners, homemakers, and consumers older than 40 years used pharmacists or doctors for their information source, and their purchase behavior was significantly more affected by recommendation of the health professionals compared to TV advertisement. This contrast was consistent with trustability rating from the consumers. Furthermore, the above subpopulation trusted pharmacists more than doctors while the opposite subpopulation trusted doctors more than pharmacists. The reason for pharmacists' being the supreme trustable resource to the above subpopulation seems to be associated with trust relationship, which is constructed by close communication and sharing most part of daily life with the consumers.