Patient sources for drug information in Iran: a questionnaire-based survey.
OBJECTIVE
To identify sources used by patients to obtain drug-related information and to find which portion of patients study the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL).


METHODS
A cluster random sampling was used to select 19 community pharmacies in Shiraz, Iran, from 192 pharmacies registered by Food and Drug Office of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Using a questionnaire, an independent assessor surveyed outpatients immediately after their prescriptions were dispensed. Results were subjected to statistical analysis.


RESULTS
Total of 671 patients were interviewed, of which 188 patients (28%) reported they received no information from pharmacists or physicians and 169 patients (25%) received their medications without prescription. Nearly half of the patients (46%) were informed on the frequency of use and dose of their medications. Very few patients (6%) were appropriately informed about the frequency of use, dosage, duration of treatment, and potential side effects, allergies and drug interactions. Patients with college education used PILs as a source of information more than those with lower education levels.


CONCLUSIONS
A significant portion of patients obtained medicines without a prescription. Only a few portion of patients in Shiraz received adequate drug information from their physician or pharmacist. A considerable portion of patients did not study PILs.
Nader
Forouz
F
Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Mousavizadeh
Kazem
K
Ghafourifar
Pedram
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000592:standards*; D004346:Drug Information Services; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010174:Pamphlets; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000592:standards; D010820:Physicians / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult