A UK high street retailer has become the first to train its whole pharmacy team on addressing the Gender Pain Gap, having rolled out Nurofen’s free Gender Pain Gap training.

Research by Nurofen shows 58% of pharmacists and 70% of pharmacy assistants believe women’s pain is underdiagnosed, misdiagnosed, or ignored due to gender bias and that’s why Superdrug have conducted the training. 

Research shows 89% of pharmacists are willing to receive gender bias training and 94% believe patient care would improve as a result.

The move is to help reduce health inequalities and support the millions of women who feel their pain is ignored.  Superdrug’s pharmacists, pharmacy assistants, and nurses have completed Nurofen’s free Gender Pain Gap training, helping to ensure that women are properly heard when it comes to diagnosing and treating their pain.

The Gender Pain Gap is a critical issue where women feel they are not taken seriously, or are often ignored, or deemed ‘emotional’ when it comes to their pain, which impacts women’s everyday lives. Research by Nurofen among 5,100 women and men across the UK showed over half of women (56%) feel their pain is ignored or dismissed compared to only 49% of men.

Ghada Beal, Superdrug’s Healthcare Director, commented: “Pain is one of the most common reasons patients come into our pharmacies, seeking expert advice and treatment.

“Women and men often experience pain differently, both physiologically and psychologically. Thanks to Nurofen and the training program, we can ensure our pharmacists provide fair and unbiased support so we can better support women and play our part in closing the Gender Pain Gap.”

With Pain Awareness Month underway, Nurofen is calling on other pharmacies around the country to also address the Gender Pain Gap by training their healthcare teams.  As a result, the brand hopes more women will receive the support, diagnosis, and treatment they need for their pain.

Dr Bill Laughey, Senior Medical Scientist at Reckitt, said: “Rolling out this training with Superdrug demonstrates how we’re taking action to help close the Gender Pain Gap. We want to show pain sufferers that change is coming, and healthcare professionals will be better equipped to help women manage their pain. We want to support as many pharmacy teams as we can by offering this free training, so everyone can join our mission to help close the Gender Pain Gap.”

Nurofen’s training guides healthcare professionals through a virtual education session about the Gender Pain Gap, before asking them to answer a questionnaire to complete the training. To date, two-thirds of Superdrug’s pharmacists, pharmacy assistants and nurses have completed the training.

This advancement in the training of pharmacists, pharmacy team members, and nurses supports Nurofen’s commitment, made in November 2022, to invest in specific healthcare professional education and training to help them overcome any gender bias within their daily work.

Aqib Hassan, Superdrug pharmacist at Streatham: “As pharmacists, supporting patients’ needs and providing them with the best patient care is always our top priority. Nurofen’s gender pain gap training has refreshed my awareness of how every patient faces different challenges when it comes to having their pain diagnosed and treated. Our role is to always ask the right questions, actively listen to what we’re being told, and then offer the best support and advice.”

For more information, and to download the Gender Pain Gap Index Report, visit: https://nurofen.co.uk/see-my-pain/