ABSTRACT

Background: There is a great deal of concern surrounding the dispensing practices; a majority of studies conducted in the KSA indicated that the risk of dispensing errors was increasing. Objectives: To evaluate the dispensing practices of community pharmacists in Rafha - Northern border region Methods: The data was collected by the researchers with a designed pretested interview questionnaire. Shadowing enabled the researcher to understand the user's perspective. Results: Only 26% and 23% of the study participants had received training in the last three years. Only 3% of the participants work with supervision or help during their 8- to 12-hour shifts. In total, 77% of the respondents agreed that clear self-checking routines were not implemented, and their main source of information was experience.60% (n=167) of the respondents did not know the purpose of the specific medicine they had been prescribed. Only 16% of the participants received information regarding their medications. All pharmacists dispensed thyroxin and multivitamins with iron- without a prescription or counselling. Conclusion: The study highlighted the need to offer continuing medical training programmes for community pharmacists, focusing mainly on good dispensing practices and patient counselling. Keywords: Dispensing, community pharmacy, counselling- practice

https://ijbpas.com/pdf/2019/June/MS_IJBPAS_2019_4745.pdf

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https://doi.org/10.31032/IJBPAS/2019/8.6.4745