Private pharmacies in Hanoi, Vietnam: a randomized trial of a 2-year multi-component intervention on knowledge and stated practice regarding ARI, STD and antibiotic/steroid requests.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness of a multi-component intervention on knowledge and reported practice amongst staff working in private pharmacies in Hanoi regarding four conditions: urethral discharge [sexually transmitted diseases (STD)], acute respiratory infection (ARI), and non-prescription requests for antibiotics and steroids.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial with staff working in 22 matched pair intervention and control private pharmacies who were administered a semistructured questionnaire on the four conditions before and 4 months after the interventions. The interventions focused on the four conditions and were in sequence (i) regulations enforcement; (ii) face-to-face education and (iii) peer influence. Outcome measures were knowledge and reported change in practice for correct management of tracer conditions.


RESULTS
The intervention/control-pairs (22 after drop-outs) were analysed pre- and post-intervention using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. STD: More drug sellers stated they would ask about the health of the partner (P = 0.03) and more said they would advise condom use (P = 0.01) and partner notification (P = 0.04). ARI: More drug sellers stated they would ask questions regarding fever (P = 0.01), fewer would give antibiotics (P = 0.02) and more would give traditional medicines (P = 0.03). Antibiotics request: Fewer said they would sell a few capsules of cefalexin without a prescription (P = 0.02). Steroid requests: No statistical difference was seen in the numbers who said they would sell steroids without a prescription as numbers declined in both intervention and control groups (P = 0.12).


CONCLUSIONS
The three interventions in series over 17 months were effective in changing the knowledge and reported practice of drug sellers in Hanoi.
Chalker
John
J
Management Sciences for Health, Suite 400, 4301 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1627, USA. chalkerj@compuserve.com
Chuc
N T K
NT
Falkenberg
T
T
Tomson
G
G
D000208:Acute Disease; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000600:supply & distribution; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000592:standards*; D004513:Education, Pharmacy, Continuing; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000600:supply & distribution; D011361:Professional Competence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013256:Steroids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000600:supply & distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014744:Vietnam
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D013256:Steroids