Abstract

PHARMACISTS' ATTITUDES TOWARDS PEDIATRIC COUGH AND COLD MEDICATIONS IN KHARTOUM STATE, SUDAN

Eiman Eltayeb Mohammed Ibrahim, Eman Abdalgader Mohammed Elhassan Mohammed, Eman Gaafar AhmedMohammed, Eman Moaz Rahma Ahmed, Oumalkaire Ahmed Ali Kahiye and Arwa Hassan Ahmed Elhada*

Abstract

Background: Pediatric cough and cold drugs are still used as OTC medications. Until now, their efficacy and safety have not been approved. They pose a threat that is increased by irrational use. People used them in practices of self-medication which threaten pediatric health. Their proper use cannot be ensured as a consequence of problems related to labeling, poor dispensatory practices and modest knowledge of parents regarding their use and dosing strategies. Objectives: This study aimed at assessing pharmacists‟ degree of comfort towards dispensing paediatric cough and cold medications, combination products and complementary treatments based on safety and efficacy. It also aimed at investigating their opinion about some related issues such as labelling, dispensing and patient counselling to ultimately decide whether paediatric cough and cold medications should be labelled as prescription only drugs. Method: A descriptive community pharmacy-based cross-sectional study was conducted using a pre-tested questionnaire to collect data from community pharmacists who worked in Khartoum state. The pharmacists who took part in the study have been selected using random sampling. Results: Data was obtained from 235 pharmacists who worked in Khartoum state and was analyzed statistically. The majority of pharmacists have practiced pharmacy for one to five years. (47%) of pharmacists thought the current labels are improper. Pharmacists‟ degree of comfort towards dispensing cough and cold medications and complementary treatments to paediatrics varied according to the age of the child and the pharmacist‟s years of experience. (37%) felt uncomfortable towards dispensing combination products for paediatrics and (77%) of the pharmacists mentioned that parents insisted to be recommended paediatric cough and cold medications. Conclusion: The pharmacists expressed various degrees of discomfort towards dispensing cough and cold medications and complementary treatment for children less than 5 years.

Keywords: Attitude of pharmacists, paediatric cough and cold medications, misdispensing.