title: Community pharmacists' knowledge and dispensing recommendations for treatment of acute diarrhoea in Trinidad, West Indies.
abstract: Using a hypothetical case presentation of a patient with acute diarrhoea, community pharmacists in Trinidad were asked about their knowledge and dispensing recommendations to manage acute diarrhoea. Oral rehydration salts (ORS) were recommended by 86% (79), but more pharmacists would recommend ORS as the first choice therapy alone, for children (70%) than adults (33%) (p < 0.01). Antimotility agents as a first choice therapy alone or with ORS would be given to more adults (60%) than children (10%) (p < 0.01), and more adults (59%) than children (33%) would receive cotrimoxazole. Pharmacists (93%) would counsel on preparation, storage and treatment schedule for ORS, but not on discontinuing (32%) or continuing ORS (4%). Despite 51 pharmacists knowing the WHO guidelines to treat acute diarrhoea, only 23 dispensed in accordance. Educational re-enforcement to manage acute diarrhoea and dispensing practices of medications are necessary for pharmacists who are the first patient contact in Trinidad.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad, West Indies.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Karim
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ramdahin
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Boodoo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kochhar
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Pinto Pereira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000592:standards*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000628:therapy*; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D006801:Humans; D014300:Trinidad and Tobago
chemical_list: D000930:Antidiarrheals