title: A comparative study between prescribed and over-the-counter antibiotics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the influence of pharmacists` demographic characteristics on dispensing antibiotics purchased with and without a prescription in the community pharmacies.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was conducted in 24 randomly-selected community pharmacies located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates between March and September 2009. Data were collected through a closed-structured questionnaire and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 17. Descriptive statistics, odds ratios, significance and 95% CI and logistic regression analyses were then used to analyze the resulting data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participating pharmacists conducted a total of 1645 antibiotic transactions (1211 [73.6%] dispensed with prescriptions versus and 434 [26.4%] without). Gender and socioeconomic status of the patients had a significant effect in acquiring antibiotics without prescription (p=0.012, p=0.001). Clarithromycin (91.5%), cefuroxime (91.3%), and co-amoxiclav (66.4%) were dispensed with prescription. Ceftriaxone (53.3%), amoxicillin (47.8%) and co-amoxiclav (33.6%) were dispensed without prescription. Dispensing of antibiotics with prescription were frequently given a 5, 7, or 10 day regimen, while those without prescription were frequently given 3-7 days duration. Co-amoxiclav for sore throat was commonly dispensed without prescription. Ceftriaxone for sexually transmitted diseases was dispensed at a similar rate, both with and without prescription.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dispensing antibiotic without prescription is illegal and alarming. Patient interviews and interventions to improve the current prescribing pattern for both prescribers and pharmacists are highly warranted.
authors.affiliation: Registration and Drug Control Department, Ministry of Health, PO Box 848, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Tel. +971 507376987. E-mail: dr_abasaeed@yahoo.co.uk/abasaeed2000@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Abobakr E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Abasaeed
authors.forename: Jiri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vlcek
authors.forename: Mohamed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Abuelkhair
authors.forename: Retnosari
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andrajati
authors.forename: Asim A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Elnour
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055553:Prescription Drugs
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D055553:Prescription Drugs