Libyan community pharmacists' knowledge, attitude, and practice concerning non-prescription dispensing of antibiotics

Authors

  • Rehab Abdalhamid Shaibani Department of pharmaceutics and industrial pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zawia University Author
  • Randa Salem Alaswa Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zawia University Author
  • Nora Saad Alarbe Department of pharmaceutics and industrial pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zawia University Author
  • Malak Ebrahem Rihee Department of pharmaceutics and industrial pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zawia University Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54361/Ljmr18-1.14

Keywords:

Antibiotic, resistance, Libya, DAWP, knowledge, practice, pharmacist

Abstract

Antibiotics are prescription only medications, but their dispensing as over the counter drugs constitutes one of the main causes of antibiotic resistance.  Antibiotic resistance threatens the life of people around the world, as indicated by world and Health Organization. Therefore, a global effort and collaboration are required to decrease and control the development and spread of antibiotic resistance. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of community pharmacists regarding dispensing of antibiotics without prescription (DAWP) in Libya. Self- administered questionnaire has been created with a cross sectional design and statistical package for social sciences(SPSS) version 27.0 was used for descriptive statistics analysis. The vast majority of respondents were female (82.2%) and (79.4%) of respondents were less than 30 years old. About 43% of community pharmacists reported that they dispense antibiotics without prescription. Feeling competent to dispense antibiotics as over the counter drug was the most common reason for antibiotic dispensing without prescription.  Amoxicillin, Azithromycin and Metronidazole were the most commonly dispensed antibiotics without a prescription respectively. In summary, dispensing antibiotics without a prescription is widespread in Libya, especially

When patient asks for a particular antibiotic.

References

ASLAM, Bilal, et al. Antibiotic resistance: a rundown of a global crisis. Infection and drug resistance, 2018, 1645-1658 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/IDR.S173867

‏ 2. Ventola, C. Lee. "The antibiotic resistance crisis: part 1: causes and threats." Pharmacy and therapeutics 40.4 (2015): 277

Mancuso G, Midiri A, Gerace E, Biondo C. Bacterial Antibiotic Resistance: The Most Critical Pathogens. Pathogens. 2021; 10(10):1310. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens1010131 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10101310

The role of pharmacist in encouraging prudent use of antibiotics and averting antimicrobial resistance: a review of policy and experience. WHO Regional Office for Europe. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/139702

https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/antimicrobial-resistance/amr-factsheet.pdf?sfvrsn=7c29d6d1_0

Poyongo, Baraka P., and Raphael Z. Sangeda. "Pharmacists’ knowledge attitude and practice regarding the dispensing of antibiotics without prescription in Tanzania: an explorative cross-sectional study." (2019). DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.2.17343/v1

Abdelrahman Hussain, Mohamed, et al. "Knowledge, attitude and practice of community pharmacists in relation to dispensing antibiotics without prescription in Sudan: A cross-sectional study." Integrated Pharmacy Research and Practice (2022): 107-116 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/IPRP.S363079

Hadi, Muhammad Abdul, et al. "Community pharmacists’ knowledge, attitude, and practices towards dispensing antibiotics without prescription (DAwP): a cross-sectional survey in Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia." International journal of infectious diseases 47 (2016): 95-100.‏ DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2016.06.003

Alhomoud, Faten, et al. "Self-medication and self-prescription with antibiotics in the Middle East—do they really happen? A systematic review of the prevalence, possible reasons, and outcomes." International journal of infectious diseases 57 (2017): 3-12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2017.01.014

Gajdács, Márió, Edit Paulik, and Andrea Szabó. "Knowledge, attitude and practice of community pharmacists regarding antibiotic use and infectious diseases: a cross-sectional survey in Hungary (KAPPhA-HU)." Antibiotics 9.2 (2020): 41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9020041

Ahmad, Tawseef, et al. "Assessing antibiotic dispensing without prescription through simulated client methodology in developing countries: A comprehensive literature review from 2009 to 2021." Journal of Public Health (2023): 1-23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-023-02032-x

Zawahir, Shukry, Sarath Lekamwasam, and Parisa Aslani. "A cross-sectional national survey of community pharmacy staff: Knowledge and antibiotic provision." PloS one 14.4 (2019): e0215484. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0215484

Ghenghesh, Khalifa Sifaw, et al. "Antimicrobial resistance in Libya: 1970-2011." Libyan Journal of Medicine 8.1 (2013). DOI: https://doi.org/10.3402/ljm.v8i0.20567

Horumpende, Pius G., et al. "Prescription and non-prescription antibiotic dispensing practices in part I and part II pharmacies in Moshi Municipality, Kilimanjaro Region in Tanzania: A simulated clients approach." PloS one 13.11 (2018): e0207465. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0207465

Kumar, K. Sarath, S. Saranya, and Nagasubramanian Vanitha Rani. "Community pharmacists' knowledge, attitude, and nonprescription dispensing practices of antibiotics: An explorative study in a selected city of South India." Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice 11.2 (2022): 51. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_48_21

Abdallah, Emad Mohamed. "An Overview of the Effects of Antibiotics and Medicinal Plant Extracts on the Human Microflora." Nova 5.3 (2016): 1-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.20286/nova-jmbs-050308

https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/combating-antibiotic-resistance

Al-Shami, Hiba A., et al. "Awareness, practices and perceptions of community pharmacists towards antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial stewardship in Libya: a cross-sectional study." Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice 16.1 (2023): 1-10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40545-023-00555-y

Alhomoud, Faten, Reem Almahasnah, and Farah Kais Alhomoud. "“You could lose when you misuse”–factors affecting over-the-counter sale of antibiotics in community pharmacies in Saudi Arabia: a qualitative study." BMC Health Services Research 18.1 (2018): 1-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3753-y

Ahmad, Tawseef, et al. "Assessment of without prescription antibiotic dispensing at community pharmacies in Hazara Division, Pakistan: A simulated client’s study." PLoS One 17.2 (2022): e0263756. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263756

Haile, Kaleab Taye, and Abdella Birhan Yabeyu. "Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Pharmacy Professionals Against Dispensing Antibiotics Without Prescription in Ethiopia." Integrated Pharmacy Research and Practice (2022): 167-176. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/IPRP.S383709

Zapata-Cachafeiro, Maruxa, et al. "Determinants of antibiotic dispensing without a medical prescription: a cross-sectional study in the north of Spain." Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 69.11 (2014): 3156-3160. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/dku229

Almaaytah, Ammar, Tareq L. Mukattash, and Julia Hajaj. "Dispensing of non-prescribed antibiotics in Jordan." Patient preference and adherence (2015): 1389-1395 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/PPA.S91649

https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/pdfs/Common-Cold-H.pdf

‏ Al-Halawa, Diala Abu, Rania Abu Seir, and Radwan Qasrawi. "Antibiotic Resistance Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices among Pharmacists: A Cross-Sectional Study in West Bank, Palestine." Journal of Environmental and Public Health 2023 (2023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/2294048

Kotb, Maryam, and Marwan ElBagoury. "Sale of antibiotics without prescriptions in Alexandria, Egypt." J Pure Appl Microbiol 12.1 (2018): 287-291. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22207/JPAM.12.1.34

Alrasheedy, Alian A., et al. "The impact of law enforcement on dispensing antibiotics without prescription: a multi-methods study from Saudi Arabia." Expert review of anti-infective therapy 18.1 (2020): 87-97. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14787210.2020.1705156

Downloads

Published

01-01-2024

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

1.
Shaiban R i, Alaswa R, Alarbe N, Rihee M. Libyan community pharmacists’ knowledge, attitude, and practice concerning non-prescription dispensing of antibiotics. LJMR [Internet]. 2024 Jan. 1 [cited 2024 Nov. 21];8(2):136-50. Available from: https://ljmr.ly/index.php/ljmr/article/view/149