New Zealand pharmacists’ experiences, practices and views regarding antibiotic use without prescription

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Very few studies have investigated pharmacists’ views, experiences and practices regarding the use of antibiotics without prescription. This study aimed to explore through self-report and hypothetical scenarios what factors determine New Zealand pharmacists’ behaviour and attitudes towards non-prescription use of antibiotics. METHODS: A purposeful sample of 35 registered community pharmacists of differing ethnic backgrounds was selected from a mixture of pharmacies that predominantly either serve New Zealand European customers or customers of other ethnicities. Semi-structured interviews including general background questions and six hypothetical scenarios were used for the investigation. Pharmacists’ ethnicity, education, years of experience, and customers’ ethnicity may influence their views, experiences and practices regarding the use of antibiotics without prescription. Customer demand or expectation, business orientation and competitiveness within community pharmacies, standards and practice of fellow pharmacists, ethics and professionalism, legislation, enforcement of the legislation, and apprehension of the consequences of such practice were hypothesised to have an effect on antibiotic use or supply without prescription by pharmacists. FINDINGS: The supply of antibiotics without prescription is not common practice in New Zealand. However, personal use of antibiotics without prescription by pharmacists may have been underestimated. Pharmacists were aware of legalities surrounding selling and using antibiotics and practised accordingly, yet many used antibiotics without prescription to treat themselves and/or spouses or partners. Many pharmacists also reported that under certain legislative, and regulatory and situational conditions they would sell antibiotics without a prescription. CONCLUSION: Views and practices regarding antibiotic use without prescription by community pharmacists require further exploration. KEYWORDS: Non-prescription antibiotics; hypothetical scenarios; legislation enforcement; New Zealand

Pharmacists Compliance to Practice Regulations and Good Professional Practice: A Case Study of Nigerian Community Pharmacists

“…Some of the dispensing malpractices seen in developing countries are attributed to the low level of adherence to the existing laws and regulations on good dispensing practice, lack of knowledge and professionalism among pharmacists, demand from consumers, and business orientation of pharmacies [19]. Nigeria is not left out as this study revealed that 85% of the community pharmacists surveyed dispensed prescription only medications without valid prescriptions as opposed to demanding for the prescription order as required law before dispensing such medications.…”

Knowledge, Perceptions and Practices of Community Pharmacists Towards Antimicrobial Stewardship: A Systematic Scoping Review

“…Two studies in Saudi Arabia [40] and China [41] demonstrated the practice of dispensing antibiotics without prescriptions by most CPs that is associated with the overuse of antibiotics and the risk of developing AMR. Such practices have been aggravated by financial incentives [42,43]. The economic interventions that may change CPs' attitudes to avoid dispensing antibiotics without a prescription could be investigated.…”

Antimicrobial Stewardship: A Cross-Sectional Survey Assessing the Perceptions and Practices of Community Pharmacists in Ethiopia

“…A substantial proportion of the total drug budget in many developing countries, including Ethiopia, is dedicated to antimicrobials and they are often the largest group of drugs purchased [22]. Even though the extent of nonprescription sale of antibiotics is not extensively studied in Ethiopia, the financial incentives and business orientation of pharmacies, which are known to be reasons for dispensing malpractice [23], need to be fully resolved for planning intervention strategies to curb antimicrobial resistance. The present study showed that about 42.1% of community pharmacists often/always took part in antimicrobial awareness movements.…”