Herbal medicines supplied by community pharmacies in Lagos, Nigeria: pharmacists' knowledge

Exploration of herbal medicine practices, perceptions and knowledge among Spanish community pharmacists: A cross-sectional survey study

INTRODUCTION

Herbal medicine has seen remarkable growth in consumption over the past few years. Community pharmacists are health care professionals who have an important role in the dispensing and counselling of these products. The aim of this study was to evaluate perceptions, professional practices and knowledge about herbal medicine among community pharmacists in Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain).

METHOD

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in community pharmacies in Tenerife using a questionnaire that included demographic data, perceptions, professional practices and knowledge of herbal medicine. Data from 610 community pharmacists was analyzed using SPSS 26.0 software program.

RESULTS

Most of the responders had a positive attitude towards herbal medicine, considering its products useful (80.9%), safe (64.2%) and those sold in pharmacies of high quality and standardized (84.6%). They thought that these products should only be sold in pharmacies (78.0%) and that it was their responsibility to provide information about them (95.5%). However, only 32.1% believed they are well prepared to provide herbal pharmaceutical care services and 36.1% that there are reliable and easily accessible sources of information. Moreover, 60.7% considered lack of training a barrier to recommending herbal medicinal products, being interested in updating their knowledge on it (96.9%).

CONCLUSION

This study showed that community pharmacists have a positive perception of herbal medicines, considering them beneficial and safe. However, participants requested reliable sources of information, easy access, and more training to dispense, counsel, and safely label these products. Education and training programs in herbal medicine are needed to enhance their ability to provide herbal pharmaceutical care.

Use of herbal medicine by caregivers in the management of children with sickle cell disease in Mulago National Referral Hospital - Uganda

Introduction

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is the leading genetic disease in sub-Saharan Africa and therefore remains a global public health threat. Use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) most especially herbal medicine (HM) in chronic diseases such as sickle cell disease has widely been reported in Africa where advanced technologies are greatly lacking. Despite a large presence of the sickle cell disease in Uganda, the extent to which herbal medicines are used in management of children with sickle cell disease has not been documented. This study purposed to determine the prevalence of herbal medicine (HM) use and associated factors among caregivers of children with SCD at Mulago National Referral Hospital.

Methods

a total of 384 child caretakers were interviewed in a descriptive cross-sectional quantitative study conducted at the Mulago Sickle cell clinic in March 2019. Enrolment was done consecutively and a structured interviewer administered questionnaire administered to collect data from the caretakers which was managed using SPSS version 23. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the factors associated with herbal medicine (HM) use. Factors with p-value <0.05 were regarded significant.

Results

the rate of herbal use was 77.6% (298 of 384 caregivers). At multivariate analysis, the odds of a caregiver who agreed that; HM cures symptoms faster than conventional medicine (CM) were 3 times those who disagreed with this statement (AOR =3.439, 95% CI: 1.447 - 8.176). The odds that a caregiver who agreed that HM has fewer side effects than CM were almost 4 times those that disagreed with this statement (AOR = 3.528, 95% CI: 1.917 -6.494). The odds that a caregiver who agreed that marketing HM through televisions adverts encourages HM use were 4 times those who disagreed with this statement (AOR = 4.185, 95% CI: 2.036 -8.603).

Conclusion

this study reports a high prevalence of HM use among caregivers of children with SCD at Mulago Hospital, in Uganda. The practice is significantly influenced by caretakers´ perception that HM cures symptoms faster than CM, has fewer side effects and that telemarketing has greatly facilitated its use over CM. More effort is therefore needed to encourage clinic attendances and CM use and limit the unfounded TV adverts on HM. There is also need for studies to identify the common HM used so that their efficacy and safety are well studied.

Knowledge of the Use of Herbal Medicines among Community Pharmacists and Reporting Their Adverse Drug Reactions

Introduction:

Community pharmacist’s knowledge about the uses of herbal medicines and its adverse drug reactions reporting can contribute in better therapeutic outcomes and patient safety. Objectives: To evaluate community pharmacists’ knowledge about the use of herbal medicines and its adverse drug reactions reporting in Kedah state, Malaysia.

Methods:

A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted among 103 pharmacists from 74 different community pharmacies to assess their knowledge about the use of herbal medicines and its adverse drug reaction reporting by using a pre-validate knowledge questionnaire consisting of 12 questions related to it. The pharmacists’ responses were measured at a 3-point Likert scale (Poor=1, Moderate=2, and Good=3) and data was entered in SPSS version 22. The minimum and maximum possible scores for knowledge questionnaires were 12 and 36 respectively. Quantitative data was analyzed by using One Way ANOVA and Paired t-test whereas Chi-square and Fisher exact test were used for qualitative data analysis. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant for all the analyses.

Results:

About 92% of the pharmacist had good knowledge regarding the use of herbal medicines and its adverse drug reaction reporting with a mean knowledge score of 32.88±3.16. One-way ANOVA determined a significant difference of employment setting (p<0.043) and years of experience (<0.008) with mean knowledge scores of Pharmacists. Pharmacists’ knowledge was significantly associated with their years of experience with the Chi-square test.

Conclusion:

Pharmacists exhibit good knowledge regarding the use of herbal medicines and its adverse drug reaction reporting. However, with an increasing trend of herbal medicine use and its adverse drug reaction reporting it recalls the empowerment of experienced pharmacists with training programs in this area for better clinical outcomes.

Use of traditional medicines among pharmacists in Nigeria

BACKGROUND

Traditional Medicine (TM) use is growing and emerging as an issue of public healthcare importance. Recently, there are increasing interest and trends of TM use among health care professionals (HCP). However, information regarding TM use among pharmacists in Nigeria is limited. This study investigates the use of TM among pharmacists in Nigeria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was a cross sectional study in the form of an online survey (Google Surveys). Eligible participants were pharmacists currently practicing in Nigeria. The closed-ended questionnaire was developed and validated prior to the data collection. The hyperlink to the online survey questionnaire was shared with the eligible pharmacists via social media groups belonging to pharmacists' professional associations.

RESULTS

A total of 262 of completed responses were received. Among the respondents, 53.2% had over 5 years of pharmacy practice experience and 48% were practicing in hospitals. 225 respondents (85.9%) have ever used TM at least once in their lifetime, while 21.3% were currently using TM at the time of the data collection. Those that used TM in the last 12 months were 47.0%, while those that used it within the last week, one month and six months were 15.4%, 10.5% and. 12.8% respectively. Herbal medicine was the most frequently used TM among the respondents (94.2%). The most common reason for using TM was for the maintenance of general well-being (38.2%). Among the TM users, 17.3% have reported experiencing an ADE-related to the TM use. Among the respondents, 44.7% felt TM is safe for use while 35.5% indicated that they will recommend TM to their patients.

CONCLUSION

TM is commonly used by a pharmacist in Nigeria particularly among those practicing in the community and hospital. This signifies an increasing acceptance of TM among healthcare professionals and a call for more education and training on TM for effective pharmaceutical care delivery.

The Needs and Resources of Drug Information at Community Pharmacies in Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

Community pharmacists are in a key position to provide information on drugs and thus promote the rational use of drugs.

OBJECTIVES

The present study was designed to determine the needs and resources of drug information in community pharmacies.

METHODS

A prospective institution based cross-sectional study was carried out and data were collected on 48 community pharmacists in Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia, using interviewer administered structured questionnaire.

RESULTS

Almost all pharmacists (N = 47, 97.9%) often receive drug related queries and these were mainly from consumers (N = 41, 85.4%). While most questions relate to drug price (N = 29, 60.4%) and dosage (N = 21, 43.8%), the information resources mainly referred to were drug package inserts and national standard treatment guidelines. However, limited availability of information resources as well as limited ability to retrieve relevant information influenced the practice of pharmacists. Female pharmacists claimed better use of different information resources than males (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Community pharmacists in Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia, are often accessed for drug related information. But there are limitations in using up to date and most reliable resources. Therefore, intervention aimed at improving pharmacists' access to and evaluation of drug information is urgently needed.

Herbal Medicines: Personal Use, Knowledge, Attitude, Dispensing Practice, and the Barriers among Community Pharmacists in Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia

Background

Herbal medicine use is increasing and the global market is estimated to be US$107 billion by the year 2017.

Objectives

This study aimed at assessing community pharmacists' personal use, knowledge, attitude, dispensing practice, and the barriers regarding herbal medicines.

Methods

Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted among 47 community pharmacists in Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia, using a structured interviewing questionnaire.

Results

Nearly half of the respondents (n = 22, 46.8%) sometimes use herbal medicines. Although knowledge related to such preparations was self-rated as poor/acceptable (n = 34, 72.4%), majority (n = 44, 93.7%) of community pharmacists agree/strongly agree that herbal medicines have beneficial effects. Only 6 (12.7%) of them are sometimes/often engaged in dispensing herbal medicines and most of them (n = 34, 72.3%) rarely/never counseled clients regarding these preparations. Limited knowledge on and access to information regarding herbal medicines are the main barriers to the pharmacists' practice.

Conclusion

Although community pharmacists in Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia, commonly use and demonstrated good attitude towards herbal medicines, they are less involved in dispensing such products. They are also challenged with limited knowledge on and access to herbal medicine information. Thus, pharmacy educators, professional organizations, and the government shall pay more attention to solve the problem. Regulatory provisions on herbal medicine dispensing must be enacted and communicated very well.

Drug dispensing practices at pharmacies in Bengaluru: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

Pharmacists are one of the crucial focal points for health care in the community. They have tremendous outreach to the public as pharmacies are often the first-port-of-call. With the increase of ready-to-use drugs, the main health-related activity of a pharmacist today is to assure the quality of dispensing, a key element to promote rational medicine use.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study of 200 pharmacies, 100 each in various residential (R) and commercial (C) areas of Bengaluru, was conducted using a prevalidated questionnaire administered to the chief pharmacist or the person-in-charge by the investigators.

RESULTS

Dispensing without prescription at pharmacies was 45% of the total dispensing encounters and significantly higher (χ² = 15.2, P < 0.001, df = 1) in pharmacies of residential areas (46.64%) as compared to commercial areas (43.64%). Analgesics were the most commonly dispensed drugs (90%) without prescription. Only 31% insisted on dispensing full course of antibiotics prescribed and 19% checked for completeness of prescription before dispensing. Although 97% of the pharmacies had a refrigerator, 31% of these did not have power back-up. Only about 50% of the pharmacists were aware of Schedule H.

CONCLUSION

This study shows a high proportion of dispensing encounters without prescription, a higher rate of older prescription refills, many irregularities in medication counseling and unsatisfactory storage practices. It also revealed that about half of the pharmacists were unaware of Schedule H and majority of them about current regulations. Hence, regulatory enforcement and educational campaigns are a prerequisite to improve dispenser's knowledge and dispensing practices.