Management of diarrhoea cases by community pharmacies in 3 cities of Pakistan.
Community pharmacies are valued for their potential role in the management of common ailments. This cross-sectional study aimed to document the management of diarrhoea by community pharmacies in 3 cities in Pakistan. Visits were performed to 371 randomly selected pharmacies to request advice for a simulated paediatric case of diarrhoea. The pharmacy's management was scored on a checklist including history taking and provision of advice and information. Customers were served by a salesperson in 97.3% of visits and by a pharmacist in only 2.2%. Medication was dispensed in 77.1% of visits. Of the medications dispensed, 58.7% were antiamoebics, 14.0% antibiotics and 18.9% antidiarrhoeals; only 8.4% were oral rehydration salts. None of the regimens matched with a standard prescription. The dosage regimen was explained to the customer in only 52.6% of cases. Drug safety, unqualified personnel, lack of history taking, inappropriate treatment and lack of counselling are concerns to be addressed.
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia. azharhussain10971@gmail.com
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Hussain
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Ibrahim
D002648:Child; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services; D003376:Counseling; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric