RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A comparative study between prescribed and over-the-counter antibiotics
JF Saudi Medical Journal
JO Saudi Med J
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 1048
OP 1054
VO 34
IS 10
A1 Abasaeed, Abobakr E.
A1 Vlcek, Jiri
A1 Abuelkhair, Mohamed A.
A1 Andrajati, Retnosari
A1 Elnour, Asim A.
YR 2013
UL http://smj.org.sa/content/34/10/1048.abstract
AB OBJECTIVE: To examine the influence of pharmacists’ demographic characteristics on dispensing antibiotics purchased with and without a prescription in the community pharmacies.METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 24 randomly-selected community pharmacies located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates between March and September 2009. Data were collected through a closed-structured questionnaire and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 17. Descriptive statistics, odds ratios, significance and 95% CI and logistic regression analyses were then used to analyze the resulting data.RESULTS: Participating pharmacists conducted a total of 1645 antibiotic transactions (1211 [73.6%] dispensed with prescriptions versus and 434 [26.4%] without). Gender and socioeconomic status of the patients had a significant effect in acquiring antibiotics without prescription (p=0.012, p=0.001). Clarithromycin (91.5%), cefuroxime (91.3%), and co-amoxiclav (66.4%) were dispensed with prescription. Ceftriaxone (53.3%), amoxicillin (47.8%) and co-amoxiclav (33.6%) were dispensed without prescription. Dispensing of antibiotics with prescription were frequently given a 5, 7, or 10 day regimen, while those without prescription were frequently given 3-7 days duration. Co-amoxiclav for sore throat was commonly dispensed without prescription. Ceftriaxone for sexually transmitted diseases was dispensed at a similar rate, both with and without prescription.CONCLUSION: Dispensing antibiotic without prescription is illegal and alarming. Patient interviews and interventions to improve the current prescribing pattern for both prescribers and pharmacists are highly warranted.