A Simulated Patients Survey on Antibiotic Dispensing Practice among Medicine Retailer: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Introduction: In developed countries, half of the antibiotics consumed in community are considered to be based on incorrect indications and most common indications are viral infections. Antibiotic dispensing practice without prescription by the community pharmacies staff are inappropriate. An antibiotic is a prescription only medicines which can not be bought without prescription from various community pharmacies and drug store in many countries Objective: To study about dispensing practice of antibiotics among medicine retailer in Butwal and Bhairahawa cities. Method: The simulated patient method was used in this study. Purposively selected 18 pharmacies 9 from each city in this study. Dispensing and counselling practice of antibiotics were assessed. Result: Most common therapeutic categories drugs dispensed by medicine retailers were antihistamine 24 (35.29 %), NSAIDs 17 (25%), ANS 14 (20.58%) and antimicrobial 12 (17.64 %). Average numbers of drug per prescription are found to be 3.77. Similarly, Average numbers of antibiotic per prescription 0.66 like name of medicine, strength, how to take, drugdrug interaction or food-drug interaction and storage condition of individual drug given to patient. However, drug information like duration of drug and frequency of dose of individual drug. Conclusion: Antibiotic is easily available as OTC in the market. The medicine information given to simulated patient by medicine retailer to the simulated patient was insufficient. Implementing policy and strict monitoring required to this overcome. In addition, Department of drug administration work shop, training about drug information and counselling of medicines to medicine retailer may improve the situation