TY - JOUR
T1 - A comparative study between prescribed and over-thecounter antibiotics
AU - Abasaeed, Abobakr E.
AU - Abuelkhair, Mohamed A.
AU - Andrajati, Retnosari
AU - Elnour, Asim A.
PY - 2013/10
Y1 - 2013/10
N2 - Objectives: 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. Conclusions: 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.
AB - Objectives: 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. Conclusions: 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.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84888866559&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 24145940
AN - SCOPUS:84888866559
SN - 0379-5284
VL - 34
SP - 1048
EP - 1054
JO - Saudi medical journal
JF - Saudi medical journal
IS - 10
ER -
