title: Pharmacists Views and Practices in Regard to Sales of Antibiotics Without a Prescription in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate pharmacists views and practices in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, through conducting direct interviews including direct questions and hypothetical scenarios.
  
  
  
  A purposeful sample of 150 community pharmacists of different ethnic and educational backgrounds were approached to participate in the study. Semistructured interviews including general questions and 5 hypothetical scenarios were used for the investigation. Complete transcripts of the interviews were prepared. All transcripts were coded and categorized into main themes using a computer software.
  
  
  
  Fifty-four pharmacists agreed to participate (response rate, 36%). Sale of antibiotics without prescription is commonly practiced in Saudi Arabia. Lack of legislation enforcement has exacerbated this practice. Economic hardship, patient's age, emotional factors, and pharmacists' self confidence in diagnosing and prescribing medications in general and antibiotics in particular were the themes included in the interviews and influenced pharmacists' decision to sell antibiotics without a prescription.Many pharmacists did not see the practice as a problem and felt capable of continuing to dispense antibiotics without a prescription. Pharmacists who saw the practice as a problem sees legislation enforcement to be the solution of the problem.
  
  
  
  Pharmacist views and practices are alarming. The results of this study show that this practice will continue to spread unless strict enforcement is put in place, Lack of clear understanding of the limitations of pharmacist's scope of practice. Results of these studies can be extrapolated to other countries in the region and other countries of the similar social and professional development status.
authors.affiliation: From the Taibah University, Al Madinah Al Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Anas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bahnassi
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D003132:Commerce; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035846:Law Enforcement; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011247:Pregnancy; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012529:Saudi Arabia
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D055553:Prescription Drugs