Advances in Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety

Self-mediation Practice and the Role of Community Drug Dispensers in Yemen; A Qualitative Study

11^th International Conference on Pharmacoepidemiology and Clinical Research

October 02-03, 2017 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Sami Mohammed Albawani, Yahaya Bin Hassan, Noorizan Abd-Aziz and Shubashini Gnansan

University Teknologi MARA, Malaysia

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Adv Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf

Abstract:

Introduction: As health care professionals, pharmacists are ideally located in community to ensure safe, effective, and rational use of drugs during self-medication practice. However, the profession of pharmacist in Yemen has become less trustworthy and many drugs are dispensed without any medical supervision. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of community pharmacists and other drug dispensers during self-medication practice. Methods: An in depth, semi-structured interviews including a series of open-ended questions were conducted and twenty community drug dispensers working in ten community pharmacies in Sana'a City were recruited based on purposive sampling technique. All interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and translated to English. The transcripts were analyzed thematically using constant comparison approach. Results: Many important themes were identified including the irrational dispensing practice by drug dispensers, poor quality of education, lack of trust towards pharmacists and doctors. Conclusion: There is an urgent need for educational campaigns to increase awareness among drug dispensers toward the risk of irresponsible self-medication. Only qualified pharmacists should be allowed to dispense medications, pharmacy curriculum need to be reviewed and updated to address important health issues including self-medication and health authorities must urgently ensure the enactment of pharmacy law.

Biography :

Sami Albawani is a PhD candidate at UiTM university, Malaysia. He is a PhD student in clinical pharmacy and he is currently waiting for his PhD viva.