The finding comes ahead of new legal powers allowing pharmacists toprescribe independently without reference to doctors later thisyear.
Just over 500 community pharmacists took part in the research, carriedout by the University of Aberdeen and published in the British Journalof Clinical Pharmacology.
Medicines only tested on adults can increase the frequency and severityof adverse reactions to drugs in children if given in the wrong doses,or not work at all.
But researchers found that nearly 30 per cent of pharmacists did notknow some medicines are not tested on children and the vast majorityadmitted to gaining knowledge through practical experience rather thanacademic training.
James McLay, co-author of the report, said it was crucial pharmacistslearned about the issue formally, as practical experience limited theirknowledge.
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