title: A review of the information-gathering process for the provision of medicines for self-medication via community pharmacies in developing countries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Currently, no review has been completed regarding the information-gathering process for the provision of medicines for self-medication in community pharmacies in developing countries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review the rate of information gathering and the types of information gathered when patients present for self-medication requests.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six databases were searched for studies that described the rate of information gathering and/or the types of information gathered in the provision of medicines for self-medication in community pharmacies in developing countries. The types of information reported were classified as: signs and symptoms, patient identity, action taken, medications, medical history, and others.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria. Variations in the study populations, types of scenarios, research methods, and data reporting were observed. The reported rate of information gathering varied from 18% to 97%, depending on the research methods used. Information on signs and symptoms and patient identity was more frequently reported to be gathered compared with information on action taken, medications, and medical history.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evidence showed that the information-gathering process for the provision of medicines for self-medication via community pharmacies in developing countries is inconsistent. There is a need to determine the barriers to appropriate information-gathering practice as well as to develop strategies to implement effective information-gathering processes. It is also recommended that international and national pharmacy organizations, including pharmacy academics and pharmacy researchers, develop a consensus on the types of information that should be reported in the original studies. This will facilitate comparison across studies so that areas that need improvement can be identified.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. 20805921@student.uwa.edu.au
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brata
authors.forename: Sajni
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gudka
authors.forename: Carl R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Everett
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Rhonda M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Clifford
mesh_terms: D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003625:Data Collection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D012651:Self Medication
keywords: Community pharmacy; Developing countries; Information gathering; Self-medication