Ali MD, Al Mubarak FE, Ghosn SA, Ahmad A, Alhussini SH, Almozien SF, Alowaywi GA, Albeladi BH. Knowledge, Attitude, and the Practice of Community Pharmacists to Dispense Opioid-Related and Opioid-Containing Medication in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia.
J Pharm Bioallied Sci 2023;
15:152-157. [PMID:
37705858 PMCID:
PMC10496855 DOI:
10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_349_23]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives
This study was done to evaluate the knowledge of community pharmacists-working in Saudi Arabia-regarding over-the-counter opioid-related and opioid-containing medications.
Materials and Methods
A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire that was distributed through social media and taken to the community pharmacists in person. A total of 101 responders were reached in a period of around 3 weeks.
Results
Most of the pharmacists working in community pharmacies in Saudi Arabia are non-Saudi (85.15%), males (88.12%), and the majority are holders of bachelor's degrees (85.15%). More than half of the participants spend a considerably sufficient time with the patient 6-10 minutes (60.4%). The availability of a private counseling room in community pharmacies is significantly low (21.78%). Only (69.41%) of participants always counsel the patient before dispensing opioid-related medications. Most of the participants (84.76%) believe that all over-the-counter opioid-related and opioid-containing medications should be restricted to avoid drug abuse.
Conclusion
A little neglect from pharmacists' side regarding dispensing such medications was observed; thus, there is a significant need to raise their awareness regarding over-the-counter opioid abuse.
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