Methods used to assess drug prescribing and dispensing behaviours in the public and private sectors by non-professional health providers

Abstract

In most developing countries, self-medication is common. Pharmacies, drug stores and drug shops are important providers of health advice and provision of inexpensive medicines. In assessing drug sellers performance, various methods have been used to collect data from drug sellers and other non professional providers. Some of these methods include exit interviews for patients after purchase of drugs, observations to assess drug sellers/dispensers roles and consumers behaviour, interviews with the drug sellers and nonprofessional providers themselves, use of simulated client approach and use of the patients care indicators such as generic prescribing/dispensing, number of drugs selected from the essential drug list or national drug formulary of the particular country. The above mentioned methods or approaches have been widely applied in most developing countries to assess dispensing and prescribing practices related to diseases like malaria, respiratory infections (pneumonia), diarrhoea and other childhood conditions. Here, the assessment can be done in 3 problem areas, drug sellers (untrained/unlicensed or nonprofessionals), pharmacists or clinicians and other trained health workers) and patients. In most cases it has been found that non-professional providers sell drugs to customers with or without prescriptions. Furthermore, the majority of drug sellers/dispensers prescribe or dispense drugs using brand names. In addition, the most commonly prescribed and dispensed drugs, antimalarials and antibiotics mostly in syrup forms for under-five children or analgesics such as paracetamol and multivitamins. Rarely do non-professional providers and drug sellers advocate oral rehydration salts (ORS), probably because of the low profit margin compared to antibiotic syrups for diarrhoea.

Keywords: Self medication, drug sellers, prescribing behaviour, dispensing, nonprofessional heath providers

East and Central African Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol.14 (2011) 57-63