scholarly journals The Needs and Resources of Drug Information at Community Pharmacies in Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dessalegn Asmelashe Gelayee ◽  
Gashaw Binega Mekonnen ◽  
Mequanent Kassa Birarra
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Guidelines ◽  
Drug Information ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Northwest Ethiopia ◽  
Information Resources ◽  
National Standard ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
Cross Sectional

Background. Community pharmacists are in a key position to provide information on drugs and thus promote the rational use of drugs. Objectives. The present study was designed to determine the needs and resources of drug information in community pharmacies. Methods. A prospective institution based cross-sectional study was carried out and data were collected on 48 community pharmacists in Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia, using interviewer administered structured questionnaire. Results. Almost all pharmacists (N=47, 97.9%) often receive drug related queries and these were mainly from consumers (N=41, 85.4%). While most questions relate to drug price (N=29, 60.4%) and dosage (N=21, 43.8%), the information resources mainly referred to were drug package inserts and national standard treatment guidelines. However, limited availability of information resources as well as limited ability to retrieve relevant information influenced the practice of pharmacists. Female pharmacists claimed better use of different information resources than males (P<0.05). Conclusions. Community pharmacists in Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia, are often accessed for drug related information. But there are limitations in using up to date and most reliable resources. Therefore, intervention aimed at improving pharmacists’ access to and evaluation of drug information is urgently needed.

scholarly journals QUALITY EVALUATION AND SURVEY OF THE ESSENTIAL NEED FOR DRUG INFORMATION CENTERS

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 137
Author(s):  
Ming Ming Wen ◽  
Heba Aref ◽  
Ahmad Abozaid ◽  
Nahla Hesham Kandil ◽  
Yasmin Hussein Elsobky
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Treatment Guidelines ◽  
Drug Information ◽  
Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Process Stage ◽  
The Impact

Objective: The first objective of this work was to examine the services provided by six drug information centers (DICs) in Alexandria, Egypt. The second objective was to evaluate the quality of the replies to the drug information query. The third objective was to assess the conceptual need of DICs from community pharmacists, other health care professionals and the general public.Methods: This study was conducted through three stages. Stage I was a field survey to assess predefined parameters in the current DICs in Alexandria. Stage II was a retrospective cross-sectional study to assess the quality of the drug information replies through an external expert review process. Stage III was a population survey and thematic analysis using questionnaires and interview recording.Results: Activities of DICs include: DIR answering service (100%), adverse drug reaction reporting (100%), issuing bulletins (83.3%), education (83.3%), drug use evaluation (50%) and participation in P and T committees (33.3%). The most frequent question categories asked were dosing, side effects, treatment guidelines and drug interactions. Half of the DICs were affiliated with hospitals; however, a general lacking confidence level of these DICs on the professionalism and the impact on patient care for the DIC services provided was identified. There was an obvious problem in formatting the ultimate question in a question format rather than a sentence format in all DICs. The most accurately answered request was adverse drug reactions. All surveyed groups considered that it is very important to have a DIC accessible to the community free of charge.Conclusion: It is necessary to establish an university-based DIC to incorporate training, education and research into the existing services. A DIC network with definitive standards of services in the future should provide safe and effective quality-assured pharmaceutical care to meet the needs and expectations of the community and improve its delivery to the public. The results and recommendations of this study can be inspired and generalized to other developing countries that have similar health systems as in Egypt. 

scholarly journals Perception of Community Pharmacists towards Dispensing Errors in Community Pharmacy Setting in Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Dessalegn Asmelashe Gelayee ◽  
Gashaw Binega Mekonnen
Keyword(s):  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Educational Status ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Northwest Ethiopia ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Gondar Town ◽  
Dispensing Errors

Background. Dispensing errors are inevitable occurrences in community pharmacies across the world. Objective. This study aimed to identify the community pharmacists’ perception towards dispensing errors in the community pharmacies in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 47 community pharmacists selected through convenience sampling. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics, Mann–Whitney U test, and Pearson’s Chi-square test of independence were conducted with P≤0.05 considered statistically significant. Result. The majority of respondents were in the 23–28-year age group (N=26, 55.3%) and with at least B.Pharm degree (N=25, 53.2%). Poor prescription handwriting and similar/confusing names were perceived to be the main contributing factors while all the strategies and types of dispensing errors were highly acknowledged by the respondents. Group differences (P<0.05) in opinions were largely due to educational level and age. Conclusion. Dispensing errors were associated with prescribing quality and design of dispensary as well as dispensing procedures. Opinion differences relate to age and educational status of the respondents.

scholarly journals Community Pharmacists’ Practice, Awareness, and Beliefs about Drug Disposal in Saudi Arabia

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 823
Author(s):  
Sultan Alghadeer ◽  
Mohammed N. Al-Arifi
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Environmental Damage ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Take Back ◽  
Medication Disposal

The awareness among Saudi people regarding the good and safe practice of drug disposal is fairly low. Community pharmacists’ potential toward drugs disposal directions and practice are not emphasized enough. Therefore, a cross sectional study was conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to evaluate the practice, awareness and beliefs of community pharmacists about disposal of unused drugs. Out of 360 subjects who participated in the study, more than 70% returned the unused drugs to the pharmaceutical distributors. Around 80% of the participants confirmed the risk of environmental damage due to the inappropriate disposal of drugs, and 87.5% of them held themselves responsible for preventing such risk. Approximately 85% of surveyed pharmacists believed community pharmacies to be an appropriate location for the collection of unused drugs. There was no significant association between the community pharmacists’ age group and years of practice as community pharmacists with either the awareness of unused medication disposal on environmental hazards, or the beliefs about the appropriate location for collecting unused drugs (p > 0.05). The awareness and proactive accountable responsibility, along with community pharmacists’ belief of appointing pharmacies to collect unused drugs, strongly support the institution of drug take-back programs.

scholarly journals Community Pharmacists’ Perceptions towards the Misuse and Abuse of Pregabalin: A Cross-Sectional Study from Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1281
Author(s):  
Sultan M. Alshahrani ◽  
Khalid Orayj ◽  
Ali M. Alqahtani ◽  
Mubarak A. Algahtany
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Male Dominance ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
First Line ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
First Line Therapy ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

Pregabalin is a first-line therapy for neuropathic pain and for chronic pain. It has abuse potential. This study was conducted to assess community pharmacists’ perceptions towards pregabalin abuse and misuse in the Aseer region, Saudi Arabia, and identify predictors and associated factors. A cross-sectional survey using a structured questionnaire following a self-administrative study was conducted across community pharmacies in the Aseer region (Abha, Khamis Mushait, Mahayel, Sarat Abeeda, Ahad-Rufaida, and Bishah). A total of 206 respondents from community pharmacists participated in the study. Over the last six months, 136 respondents (66.0%) suspected pregabalin abuse in community pharmacies; male dominance in pregabalin abusers was also recorded (n = 165, 80.1%). Additionally, 40 (19.4%) respondents stated that a prescription was not issued for pregabalin demands. Over half (61.7%) of community pharmacists recorded an increased change in pregabalin abuse compared to the previous year. This is the first study to explore pharmacists’ perceptions in the community of the Aseer region towards customers’ misuse and abuse of pregabalin. Further monitoring and regulations on the prescribing and procurement of pregabalin are needed to avoid abuse.

scholarly journals Practice and Barriers towards Provision of Health Promotion Services among Community Pharmacists in Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dessalegn Asmelashe Gelayee ◽  
Gashaw Binega Mekonnen ◽  
Seyfe Asrade Atnafe
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Educational Level ◽  
Pharmacy Practice ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Northwest Ethiopia ◽  
Drug Misuse ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Level Of Involvement

Background. Health promotion is now becoming an integral part of community pharmacy practice worldwide. Objectives. This study was intended to determine the level of involvement of community pharmacists in providing health promotion service and to identify the barriers to the practice. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 48 community pharmacists working in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia. Data on sociodemographic factors, practice, and barriers to health promotion service were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results. The majority of respondents were B.Pharm holders (n=27, 56.3%). Almost all respondents (n=45, 95.8%) were willing and claimed to be well involved in health promotion services. The top 5 services were related to drug misuse, asthma, diabetes, family planning, and cardiovascular diseases. However, involvement in some types of health promotion services significantly differed based on sex, educational level, and pharmacy ownership of respondents. The main barrier reported was lack of training. Conclusion. The community pharmacists in Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia, are engaged in health promotion activities. However lack of training has limited their level of involvement and practice differences were noted based on sex, educational level, and pharmacy ownership status of the respondents.

scholarly journals Evaluation of resources for analyzing drug interactions

2017 ◽  
Vol 104 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Risha I. Patel, PharmD ◽  
Robert D. Beckett, PharmD, BCPS
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Pharmacology ◽  
Drug Interaction ◽  
Drug Interactions ◽  
Dietary Supplement ◽  
Drug Information ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Information Resources ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional

Objective: The research sought to evaluate seven drug information resources, specifically designed for analyzing drug interactions for scope, completeness, and ease of use, and determine the consistency of content among the seven resources.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted where 100 drug-drug and drug-dietary supplement interactions were analyzed using 7 drug information resources: Lexicomp Interactions module, Micromedex Drug Interactions, Clinical Pharmacology Drug Interaction Report, Facts & Comparisons eAnswers, Stockley’s Drug Interactions (10th edition), Drug Interactions Analysis and Management (2014), and Drug Interaction Facts (2015). The interaction sample was developed based on published resources and peer input. Two independent reviewers gathered data for each interaction from each of the 7 resources using a common form.Results: Eighty-two drug-drug and 18 drug-dietary supplement interactions were analyzed. Scope scores were higher for Lexicomp Interactions (97.0%), Clinical Pharmacology Drug Interaction Report (97.0%), and Micromedex Drug Interactions (93.0%) compared to all other resources (p<0.05 for each comparison). Overall completeness scores were higher for Micromedex Drug Interactions (median 5, interquartile range [IQR] 4 to 5) compared to all other resources (p<0.01 for each comparison) and were higher for Lexicomp Interactions (median 4, IQR 4 to 5), Facts & Comparisons eAnswers (median 4, IQR 4 to 5), and Drug Interaction Facts (4, IQR 4 to 5) compared to all other resources, except Micromedex (p<0.05 for each comparison). Ease of use, in terms of time to locate information and time to gather information, was similar among resources. Consistency score was higher for Micromedex (69.9%) compared to all other resources (p<0.05 for each comparison).Conclusions: Clinical Pharmacology Drug Interaction Report, Lexicomp Interactions, and Micromedex Drug Interactions scored highest in scope. Micromedex Drug Interactions and Lexicomp Interactions scored highest in completeness. Consistency scores were overall low, but Micromedex Drug Interactions was the highest.

scholarly journals Influence of Sales Promotion Techniques on Consumers’ Purchasing Decisions at Community Pharmacies

Pharmacy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Younes Ben Said ◽  
Nicola Luigi Bragazzi ◽  
Natalia Valeryevna Pyatigorskaya
Keyword(s):  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sales Promotion ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
Purchasing Decisions ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Pharmaceutical Sales ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Trade Promotion

This research aims to identify the most prevalent and impactful sales promotion tools used by pharmaceutical companies on consumers’ purchasing decisions at community pharmacies. A cross-sectional study design was carried out using the non-repeated random sampling technique. Standardized questionnaires were administered by means of face-to-face interviews or via emails. The relative importance of prevalence (RIP) and the mean evaluation of effectiveness (MEE) were determined for all studied marketing tools for the different groups of respondents (pharmaceutical sales representatives (PSRs), community pharmacists, consumers, and the entire sample). Inter-individual differences in RIP and MEE were assessed by computing the coefficient of variation, whereas inter-group differences were determined by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with the Scheffé test as a post-hoc test. Research findings showed that, according to all respondents, the consumer promotion technique had the strongest impact on consumers’ purchasing decisions while merchandising was the most common sales promotion technique at community pharmacies. PSRs and pharmacists identified trade promotion as the most effective and prevalent technique. Furthermore, research findings showed that, according to all respondents, the following sales promotion tools had the strongest impact on consumers’ purchasing decisions: arrangement and design of showcases among the studied tools for merchandising; buy 1 and get 2 among the studied tools for consumer promotion; and gifts among the trade promotion studied tools. The same tools were identified as the most prevalent by all respondents. Free samples of promoted products appeared to be the most prevalent tool, but at the same time was the least effective. In conclusion, the results of the present research enable an understanding of which sales promotion tools are commonly used at community pharmacies and which ones have the strongest impact on consumers’ purchasing decisions.

scholarly journals Herbal Medicines: Personal Use, Knowledge, Attitude, Dispensing Practice, and the Barriers among Community Pharmacists in Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dessalegn Asmelashe Gelayee ◽  
Gashaw Binega Mekonnen ◽  
Seyfe Asrade Atnafe ◽  
Mequanent Kassa Birarra ◽  
Assefa Belay Asrie
Keyword(s):  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Northwest Ethiopia ◽  
Global Market ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Limited Knowledge ◽  
Personal Use ◽  
The Government

Background. Herbal medicine use is increasing and the global market is estimated to be US$107 billion by the year 2017. Objectives. This study aimed at assessing community pharmacists’ personal use, knowledge, attitude, dispensing practice, and the barriers regarding herbal medicines. Methods. Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted among 47 community pharmacists in Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia, using a structured interviewing questionnaire. Results. Nearly half of the respondents (n=22, 46.8%) sometimes use herbal medicines. Although knowledge related to such preparations was self-rated as poor/acceptable (n=34, 72.4%), majority (n=44, 93.7%) of community pharmacists agree/strongly agree that herbal medicines have beneficial effects. Only 6 (12.7%) of them are sometimes/often engaged in dispensing herbal medicines and most of them (n=34, 72.3%) rarely/never counseled clients regarding these preparations. Limited knowledge on and access to information regarding herbal medicines are the main barriers to the pharmacists’ practice. Conclusion. Although community pharmacists in Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia, commonly use and demonstrated good attitude towards herbal medicines, they are less involved in dispensing such products. They are also challenged with limited knowledge on and access to herbal medicine information. Thus, pharmacy educators, professional organizations, and the government shall pay more attention to solve the problem. Regulatory provisions on herbal medicine dispensing must be enacted and communicated very well.

scholarly journals Effect of COVID-19 on the Treatment of Infections by Community Pharmacists in Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 106
Author(s):  
Edidiong Orok ◽  
Success David ◽  
Chiemezie Ibegwam
Keyword(s):  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Access To Healthcare ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
The Way

been one of the most affected since the pandemic has limited their access to healthcare everywhere in the world including Nigeria. Reduced access to healthcare services in hospitals has caused an increase in the number of patient visits to the community pharmacies.  This study was designed to evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the treatment of infections by community pharmacists. This study was a prospective cross-sectional study that was carried out among community pharmacists working in community pharmacies in Ibadan, Oyo state and Uyo, Akwa Ibom state due to the recent rise in COVID-19 cases from July until August 2020. Data was collected through a pre-tested online questionnaire which was sent to the pharmacists upon provision of consent after the purpose of the study was explained.  A total of one hundred and twenty two pharmacists consented to participate in this study out of which 65 (53.3%) were female. Malaria (81, 66.4%), respiratory tract infections (40, 32.8%) and sexually transmitted infections (1, 0.8%) were identified as infections with the highest frequency by the community pharmacists, while more than 96% (118) pharmacists reported that COVID-19 has affected the way they manage or treat other infections seen in their pharmacy. This study shows that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the way community pharmacists treat other infections in the community pharmacy setting. More studies are needed to explore the specific nature of this effect on specific infections.

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