Pharmacy Technology to Better Public Health

Author(s):  
Shahid Muhammad ◽  
Hooman Safaei ◽  
Tariq Muhammad

Healthcare access and delivery faces significant global and local challenges. This article aimed to explore the public's use of pharmacy services and aimed to obtain 200 completed surveys across eight districts of Bristol, UK, from non-registered pharmacy premises. Respondents reported as follows: 1) ability to order a repeat prescription (79.47%), 2) ability to collect a repeat prescription (72.63%), 3) ability to collect an acute prescription (66.84%), ability to purchase over the counter (OTC) medicines (59.79%), 4) followed by asking for specific advice on prescription medicines (48.42%), and 5) minor ailments (44.15%). Respondents had used the pharmacy at least once for collecting a repeat prescription for a routine medication (59.47%) or acute prescription (55.79%) and for buying OTC medicines (47.89%). Majority of respondents never approached a community pharmacist to specifically ask advice on medicines (51.32%). Participants had not ever approached a community pharmacist for minor ailment/health advice (71.58%).

Author(s):  
Shahid Muhammad ◽  
Hooman Safaei ◽  
Tariq Muhammad

Healthcare access and delivery faces significant global and local challenges. This article aimed to explore the public's use of pharmacy services and aimed to obtain 200 completed surveys across eight districts of Bristol, UK, from non-registered pharmacy premises. Respondents reported as follows: 1) ability to order a repeat prescription (79.47%), 2) ability to collect a repeat prescription (72.63%), 3) ability to collect an acute prescription (66.84%), ability to purchase over the counter (OTC) medicines (59.79%), 4) followed by asking for specific advice on prescription medicines (48.42%), and 5) minor ailments (44.15%). Respondents had used the pharmacy at least once for collecting a repeat prescription for a routine medication (59.47%) or acute prescription (55.79%) and for buying OTC medicines (47.89%). Majority of respondents never approached a community pharmacist to specifically ask advice on medicines (51.32%). Participants had not ever approached a community pharmacist for minor ailment/health advice (71.58%).


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0256156
Author(s):  
Ahmed Mohamed Makhlouf ◽  
Mohamed Izham Mohamed Ibrahim ◽  
Ahmed Awaisu ◽  
Saseendran Kattezhathu Vyas ◽  
Kazeem Babatunde Yusuff

Studies focused on comprehensive assessment of self-perceived competency of community pharmacists to manage minor ailments are scanty despite that self-perceived competency is a valid determinant of task performance. The objectives of the study were to assess community pharmacists’ self-perceived competency to manage fourteen common minor ailments in Qatar, and identify its significant predictors. A cross-sectional assessment of 307 community pharmacists was conducted with a pre-tested 20-item questionnaire. Self-perceived competency was assessed with nine elements on a scale of 1–10 (Maximum obtainable score: Each minor ailment = 90; each element = 140). Mann-Whitney U and bivariate logistic regression were used for data analyses. The response rate was 91.9% (282/307). The majority of the respondents were males (68.1%; 192/282), within the age range of 31–40 years (55.3%; 156/282). The minor ailments with the highest median competency score were constipation (76), and cold/catarrh (75) while travel sickness (69), and ringworm (69) had the lowest. The two condition-specific competency elements with the highest median score were recommendation of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines (115), and provision of instructions to guide its use (115). Ability to differentiate minor ailments from other medical conditions had the lowest median competency score (109). The significant predictors self-perceived competency were female gender (OR = 2.39, 95%CI: 1.34–4.25, p = 0.003), and working for chain pharmacies (OR = 2.54, 95%CI: 1.30–4.96, p = 0.006). Overall, Community pharmacists’ self-perceived competency was adequate for majority of the common minor ailments, and it was highest for constipation and cold/catarrh, and specifically for the recommendation of OTC medicines and provision of instructions to guide its use. However, diagnostic ability to differentiate minor ailments from other medical conditions with similar features had the lowest median competency score. Female gender and working in chain pharmacies were the significant predictors of self-perceived competency to manage minor ailments.


2019 ◽  
Vol 118 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Dr.G. Madhumita ◽  
Dr.G. Rajini ◽  
Dr.B. Subisha

The study investigates the preference of OTC Medicines among the pharmaceutical brand.OTC Medicines means medicines lawfully permitted to sell  “Over the Counter”, i.e. devoid of the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner. In India, although the expression has no lawful acknowledgment, all the medicines that are not incorporated in the list of ‘prescription only medicines’ are measured as non-prescription medicines (or OTC Medicines).Pharmaceutical over the counter products (OTC) be the medicines which can be sold without prescription. Also termed as “Non Prescription Medicines” discussed by Arti(2010).This article talks about top pharmaceutical company brands Aventis Pharma, GlaxoSmithKline, Surya Pharma, Torrent Pharma,Glenmark,Divis Labs,Biocon, Orchid Chemical, Abbott Indi, Sterling Bio, Alembic Pharma etc, the brand preference of New Age Indian Women. A 736 questionnaire was composed of different age and different New Age Indian Women in around Urban :Chennai ;Semi Urban :Neyveli ; Rural :Soolurpet ;Tirupur. The findings of the study shows that the highest preferred generic brand is balms,  Medicines chosen  for fever is Crocin, Idoex  is most ideal pain blams, volini spray is also most preferred brand, ENO is ideal Antacid brand, Sadiron is another chosen brand for cough and cold, the other brands are Metfal SPS, Johnson, Revital are the other favored brands. The study will be a great instrument for the pharmaceutical companies brands to understand today’s New Age Indian Women.


Pharmacy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 132
Author(s):  
Lezley-Anne Hanna ◽  
Alana Murphy ◽  
Maurice Hall ◽  
Rebecca Craig

Background: The aim was to investigate pharmacy students’ views on the role of the pharmacist in facilitating self-care with over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, particularly in light of new roles, and establish personal practice. Methods: Final year pharmacy students at Queen’s University Belfast were invited to participate. Data were collected via a pre-piloted questionnaire, distributed at a compulsory class (only non-identifiable data were requested). Descriptive statistics were performed, and non-parametric tests were employed for inferential statistical analysis (responses by gender). Results: The response rate was 87.6% (78/89); 34.6% (27/78) males and 65.4% (51/78) females. Over a third [34.6% (27/78)] reported using OTC medicines about once a month. All appreciated the importance of an evidence-based approach to optimize patient care. Most [(96.2% (75/78)] deemed OTC consultations should remain a fundamental responsibility of pharmacists and 69.2% (54/78) thought OTC consultations have the potential to be as complex as independent pharmacist prescribing. Females felt more confident recommending OTC emergency contraception than males (p = 0.002 for levonorgestrel and p = 0.011 for ulipristal acetate). Many [61.5% (48/78)] considered more medicines should not be deregulated from prescription-only status. Conclusions: Data from this single institution suggests that enabling self-medication is an important part of practice but there were confidence issues around deregulations.


Pharmacy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 174
Author(s):  
Elina Amatya ◽  
Romano Fois ◽  
Kylie A. Williams ◽  
Lisa G. Pont

One post-marketing surveillance challenge for many regulatory authorities is access to information regarding the safety of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines. National spontaneous adverse drug reaction (ADR) report data represent a rich potential data source for the detection of safety signals associated with OTC medicines, yet little is known regarding the possibility of detecting safety signals for OTC medicines within these datasets. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential for detecting safety signals for OTC medicines in National ADR spontaneous reporting data, using OTC non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and gastrointestinal bleeding as an example. Data from the Australian Adverse Drug Reactions System (ADRS) dataset (1971–2008) and the Canadian Vigilance Adverse Reaction Online Database (VAROD) (1965–2013) were used to explore the feasibility of using spontaneous reporting data, exploring the association between gastrointestinal bleeding and the use of OTC NSAIDs. Safety signals were examined using disproportionality analyses and reporting odds ratios calculated. After adjusting for age, gender, medications known to increase the risk of bleeding, and medications used for the management of conditions associated with an increased risk of bleeding, a two-fold increase in the risk of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding with OTC NSAID was observed within each dataset. This study demonstrates that spontaneous ADR reporting data can be used in pharmacovigilance to monitor the safety of OTC medicines.


1992 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 303-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Stephen Craig

Concern has long been expressed over possible adverse effects of television advertising of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines. This study investigated a sample of prime time network television ads to determine how gender portrayals differed in drug and non-drug commercials. Findings indicated that women were significantly more likely than men to appear as characters in drug ads than in ads for other products, and that they are frequently portrayed in these commercials as experts on home medical care, often as mothers caring for ill children. This supports the hypothesis that drug advertisers take advantage of stereotypical images of women as home medical caregivers. It also raises the question of whether female consumers are being encouraged by these ads to overuse OTC medications as a way of gaining the family's love and respect.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document