title: A survey on the factors influencing the pattern of medicine's use: Concerns on irrational use of drugs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pharmacists have a remarkable role in rational use of drugs by dissemination of drug information to guide patients, physicians, and policy makers. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the pharmacists' view point about the main factors affecting current drug use pattern regarding rational drug use and the most effective strategies for improving and promoting rational drug use among pharmacists.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional survey, pre-designed questionnaires were filled in convenient sampling by pharmacists who had attended the congress of rational drug use in Tehran, Iran.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 144 pharmacists with the average age of 40.78 years old were enrolled to the study. Data indicated that the most priorities in irrational use of drugs from pharmacists' view point were lack of appropriate cooperation and communication between physicians and pharmacists (39%), pharmacists' low tariff and economic issues (34%), lack of public knowledge about drug usage (45%), and lack of supervisory regulations on pharmacy practice (15.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, lack of public knowledge and awareness about appropriate use of medicines was the most important element from pharmacists' viewpoint in occurrence of irrational drug use. Dissemination of information and compiling of diverse strategies in education, management, regulation, and finance can be very efficient due to a strong relationship between drug policies and performance of regulations and supervisions as well as drug services.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacoeconomics and Pharmaceutical Management, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ; National Committee on Rational Drug Use, Food and Drug Organization, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Soleymani
authors.affiliation: National Committee on Rational Drug Use, Food and Drug Organization, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fariba
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ahmadizar
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Alipasha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meysamie
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ; Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdollahi
keywords: Drug consultation; drug information; drug policy; pharmacists’ roles; rational drug use