OBJECTIVES: A previous study was conducted in France, in 2013, to evaluate the physicians’ prescribing practices related to sore throat. Special attention was paid to the use of rapid diagnostic test (TROD). The present study aims at describing how sore throat is managed at the community pharmacy-level and at identifying the patients’ expectations concerning this condition. METHODS: This was a national observational study conducted in community pharmacies distributed around France. It included two components: a questionnaire for pharmacists, administered by phone, and a self-administered survey submitted to adult patients spontaneously consulting pharmacists for sore throat. For the patient population, the data collected consisted in demographics, severity of sore throat and expectations. The pharmacists were interviewed on the type of products and advice delivered. RESULTS: A total of 167 pharmacies were included in the study and 1663 patient questionnaires were analyzed. Data collected revealed that most patients (72%) seek pharmacists’ advice for sore throat in the first 48 hours after onset and expect in priority a relief of difficulty swallowing and/or pain. Most patients suffered from at least one associated symptom such as running nose or headache. About 40% of patients were advised to consult a physician especially when sore throat lasted longer or was associated to a higher number of concomitant symptoms. Combinations of antiseptic and local anesthetic represent the most frequently advised product for sore throat in pharmacies. TROD were not currently offered in most pharmacies (86%) but 2 pharmacists out of 3 consider delivering it in the future depending on adequate training and economic return. CONCLUSIONS: The management of sore throat in pharmacies largely relies on over-the-counter medications. A wider availability of TROD could enable a better disease management and relevant referral to physicians in the case of bacterial involvement.