title: Purchase of Antimicrobials in Retail Pharmacies When a Prescription is Not Required.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The patterns of purchasing prescription antimicrobials with or without a prescription from retail pharmacies in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, were examined in relation to purchasers' socioeconomic status and price of the product.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was conducted at 250 randomly selected pharmacies in Ulaanbaatar. A total of 619 customers were interviewed, and the medicines they bought at the stores were examined by medical doctors. The use of prescriptions and advice in purchasing medicines and sociodemographic characteristics of the subjects were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Interviews were conducted with 297 customers who purchased prescription antimicrobials in front of the store in which they made their purchase. Among these 297 customers, only 19.5% (n=58) purchased medicine with a formal prescription, and 37.4% (n=111) purchased medicines on their own initiative and without the guidance of medical professionals. Purchase without a prescription was not associated with the subjects' gender, age, educational status or area of residence. Lower-priced antimicrobials were purchased without prescriptions more frequently than those with a higher price (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The purchase of antimicrobials without prescriptions is common across all sociodemographic strata in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Considering the increases in number of retail pharmacies and in sales of antimicrobials associated with economic development, measures to enforce regulations and to promote education among the general public and pharmacy professionals are required.
authors: International Health Section, Graduate School of Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan ; Health Science University of Mongolia, School of Pharmacy, Mongolia.
authors: Khaliun
authors: K
authors: Nyambayar
authors: International Health Section, Graduate School of Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan.
authors: Keiko
authors: K
authors: Nakamura
authors: Department of International Nursing, Nagasaki University, Japan.
authors: Mayumi
authors: M
authors: Ohnishi
authors: International Health Section, Graduate School of Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan.
authors: Rie
authors: R
authors: Nakajima
authors: Health Promotion Section, Graduate School of Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan.
authors: Vaanchig
authors: V
authors: Urnaa
authors: Health Promotion Section, Graduate School of Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan.
authors: Takehito
authors: T
authors: Takano
keywords: Ulaanbaatar; antimicrobials; drug resistance; prescription; self-medication
references: Trop Med Int Health. 1997 Dec;2(12):1133-9
references: 9438468
references: Soc Sci Med. 1998 Sep;47(6):779-94
references: 9690824
references: Soc Sci Med. 2003 Aug;57(4):733-44
references: 12821020
references: Lancet Infect Dis. 2005 Aug;5(8):481-93
references: 16048717
references: Soc Sci Med. 2000 Mar;50(6):891-903
references: 10695985
references: Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 1998 Jul;7(4):261-7
references: 15073988
references: Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2005 Nov;26(5):389-95
references: 16221541
references: Int J Antimicrob Agents. 1995 Apr;5(2):107-13
references: 18611656
references: Ann Intern Med. 1993 Apr 1;118(7):557-61
references: 8442626
references: Soc Sci Med. 2002 Jun;54(12):1875-86
references: 12113442
references: Int J Equity Health. 2009 Apr 15;8:11
references: 19368731
references: Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2004 Aug;24(2):105-10
references: 15288307