Medicines dispensing practice during the era of COVID-19 pandemic

• At: PPR SIG 2021 (2021)
• Type: Digital
• By: HASEN, Gemmechu (Jimma University , Ethiopia)
• Co-author(s): 1 School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jimma University, P.O. Box: 378, Jimma, Ethiopia. 2 Laboratory of Drug Quality (JuLaDQ), Jimma University, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia. 3 Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
  
• Abstract:

  Introduction

  Background: The provision of quality pharmacy services particularly, dispensing practice with pre-existing challenges in resource-limited settings is a grave concern in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  Objectives

  The present study is aimed to evaluate the current condition of drug dispensing practice in drug retail outlets of Jimma Town.

  Methods

  Two approaches of the study encompassing; face to face interviews and simulated patients visits were employed. Out of 57 [Pharmacy (n=21), Drug store (n=33)] drug retail outlets, dispensers from 48 drug outlets have participated in the interview. The open-ended and structured questions adopted from standard guidelines for medication dispensing practice were used to collect data. SPSS Version 21.0 (Chicago, SPSS Inc.) was used to analyze data. Chi-square was used to determine the association between different variables at a 5% (p< 0.05) level of significance

  Results

  Although, 83.3% of dispensers declared that they provide drug information for each patient, only 42.2% of dispensers informed the simulated patients how to take the prescribed drug correctly. Moreover, 79.2% of dispensers agreed that they provide drugs with adequate labeling of the necessary information. However, the results of simulated patients revealed that 20%, 44.4%, and 42.2% of the dispensers write dosage, frequency of administration, and duration therapy of the dispensed drug on appropriate label respectively. The experience of the dispenser (p-value=0.028), time spent in drug outlet by the dispenser (p-value=0.041), workload (p-value=0.024), and dispensing time for a single drug (p-value=0.030) were significantly associated with the status of dispensing practice

  Conclusion

  The current status of dispensing practice in the drug retail outlets of Jimma Town is not satisfactory. The results of simulated patients revealed inadequate labelling and counselling of medications by dispensers. Therefore, the regulatory authority should urgently develop a strategy for drug dispensing practice in the context of the COVID 19 pandemic to promote the rational use of medicines.