Download fulltext HTML
Siddiqui, N. H., Dayo, A., Arain, M. I., Ghoto, M. A., Shahnaz, S., Anwar, R., & Khan, J. (2021). Assessment of Knowledge, Qualification, Experience, and Medication Dispensing Practices in South Karachi, Pakistan. Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences (SJMS), 16(2), 245–258. https://doi.org/10.18502/sjms.v16i2.9292

https://doi.org/10.18502/sjms.v16i2.9292

statistics

  • 926 Abstract Views
  • 422 PDF Views
  • 0 HTML Views

authors

  • Nauman Haider Siddiqui

    Nauman Haider Siddiqui

    Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan
  • Abdullah Dayo

    Abdullah Dayo

    Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan
  • Mudassar Iqbal Arain

    Mudassar Iqbal Arain

    Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan
  • Muhammad Ali Ghoto

    Muhammad Ali Ghoto

    Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan
  • Saira Shahnaz

    Saira Shahnaz

    Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Nazeer Hussain University, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Ramesha Anwar

    Ramesha Anwar

    Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Jibran Khan

    Jibran Khan

    Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan

Published Date

  • Jun 30, 2021

Assessment of Knowledge, Qualification, Experience, and Medication Dispensing Practices in South Karachi, Pakistan

Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences (SJMS) / Sudan JMS: Volume 16 (2021), Issue No. 2 / Pages 245–258

Abstract

Background: Drug stores in Pakistan are run by dispensers with varied knowledge, qualification, and experience. The current study was sought to explore the knowledge, qualification, experience, and dispensing practices among dispensers working in drugstores in South Karachi, Pakistan.


Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out using a structured questionnaire. Data were collected from medical stores in South Karachi which were then categorized, coded, and analyzed using SPSS version 23. Relationship among different study variables with pharmacist’s availability and personal experience was assessed using statistical non-parametric Chi-square test. A total of 385 samples obtained using a simple random sampling method were included in the study. However, only 210 responses on questionnaire were complete which were then selected for study analysis between October and December 2018.


Results: Of the 210 surveyed drugstores, 9% of their staff had studied only till primary school, 5.7% till the eighth grade, 25.2% up to secondary school level, 26.7% till higher secondary school level, 15.7% had non-professional education, and 8.1% were professional graduate. Only 9% of them had a degree in Pharm. D or B. Pharm, while 0.5% had a post-graduation qualification. Furthermore, 44.8% of pharmacies had a valid pharmacy license but the pharmacist was physically absent in 91% of the drugstores. Majority of pharmacies did not maintain appropriate temperature (refrigerator and/or room temperature). Majority of dispensers did not review prescription particulars before dispensing medications and also dispensed medications on older prescriptions as well as without prescription.


Conclusion: In conclusion, the overall knowledge and practices of dispensers working in drugstores was poor. However, the presence of pharmacist was associated with good dispensing practices to a certain extent.

Keywords:

community pharmacy, good dispensing practice, pharmacist, prescription review

References
[1] Alam, S., Osama, M., Iqbal, F., et al. (2018). Reducing pharmacy patient waiting time. International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, vol. 31, no. 7, pp. 834–844.


[2] Paulino, E., Thomas, D., Lee, S. W., et al. (2019). Dispensing process, medication reconciliation, patient counseling, and medication adherence. In D. Thomas (Ed.), Clinical Pharmacy Education, Practice and Research (pp. 109–120). Science Direct.


[3] Zafar, S. N., Syed, R., Waqar, S., et al. (2008). Self-medication amongst university students of Karachi: prevalence, knowledge and attitudes. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, vol. 58, no. 4, p. 214.


[4] Ullah, H. A., Khan, S. A., Ali, S., et al. (2013). Evaluation of self-medication amongst university students in Abbottabad, Pakistan: prevalence, attitude and causes. Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica, vol. 70, no. 5, pp. 919–922.


[5] Hussain, A. and Khanum, A. (2008). Self-medication among university students of Islamabad, Pakistan— a preliminary study. Southern Med Review, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 14–16.


[6] Ahmed, B., Nanji, K., Mujeeb, R., et al. (2014). Effects of polypharmacy on adverse drug reactions among geriatric outpatients at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi: a prospective cohort study. PLoS ONE, vol. 9, no. 11, p. e112133.


[7] Sabzwari, S. R., Qidwai, W., and Bhanji, S. (2013). Polypharmacy in elderly: a cautious trail to tread. Journal of Pakistan Medical Association, vol. 63, no. 5, p. 624.


[8] Zaidi, S., Bigdeli, M., Aleem, N., et al. (2013). Access to essential medicines in Pakistan: policy and health systems research concerns. PloS ONE, vol. 8, no. 5, p. e63515.


[9] Hafeez, A., Kiani, A. G., Din, S. U., et al. (2004). Prescription and dispensing practices in public sector health facilities in Pakistan-survey report. Journal of Pakistan Medical Association, vol. 54, no. 4, pp. 187–191.


[10] Hussain, A., Malik, M., and Toklu, H. Z. (2013). A literature review: pharmaceutical care an evolving role at community pharmacies in Pakistan. Pharmacology & Pharmacy, vol. 4, no. 05, p. 425.


[11] Atif, M., Ahmad, M., Saleem, Q., et al. (2017). Pharmaceutical policy in Pakistan. In Z. Babar (Ed.), Pharmaceutical Policy in Countries with Developing Healthcare Systems (pp. 25–44). Adis, Cham.


[12] Khalid, L., Mahsood, N., and Ali, I. (2016). The public health problem of OTC antibiotics in developing nations. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, vol. 12, no. 5, pp. 801–802.


[13] Haseeb, A. and Bilal, M. (2016). Prevalence of using non prescribed medications in economically deprived rural population of Pakistan. Archives of Public Health, vol. 74, no. 1, p. 1.


[14] Rabbani, F., Cheema, F. H., Talati, N., et al. (2001). Behind the counter: pharmacies and dispensing patterns of pharmacy attendants in Karachi. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, vol. 51, no. 4, p. 149.


[15] Butt, Z. A., Gilani, A. H., Nanan, D., et al. (2005). Quality of pharmacies in Pakistan: a cross-sectional survey. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, vol. 17, no. 4, pp. 307–313.


[16] World Health Organization. (1993). How to Investigate Drug Use in Health Facilities: Selected Drug Use Indicators. Geneva: World Health Organization.


[17] Bhurgri, Y., Rahim, A., Bhutto, K., et al. (1998). Incidence of carcinoma of the oral cavity in Karachi-District South. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, vol. 48, no. 11, pp. 321–324.


[18] Caamaño, F., Ruano, A., Figueiras, A., et al. (2002). Data collection methods for analyzing the quality of the dispensing in pharmacies. Pharmacy World and Science, vol. 24, no. 6, pp. 217–223.


[19] Toklu, H., Ak