Pattern of antibiotic dispensing at pharmacies according to access, watch, reserve (AWaRe) classification: multicenter study after COVID-19 waves in different districts of Pakistan
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The dispensing of non-prescription antibiotics is a worldwide concern, and antibiotics should only be dispensed with a legitimate prescription.
METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted using the simulated client methodology, with data collected, recorded, and analyzed using SPSS.
RESULTS: The simulated client visited 210 pharmacies, of which 70 dispensed antibiotics without a prescription. Outcomes The most often suggested antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) were Amoxicillin (n = 17, 8.1%), Clarithromycin (n = 20, 9.5%), and Moxifloxacin (n = 13, 6.2%), with 33.3% of medications dispensed without a prescription for URTIs. Cefixime (n = 20, 9.5%) and ceftriaxone (n = 17, 8.1%) were the most often administered medications for urinary tract infections (UTIs). The non-prescribed dispensing of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) and urinary tract infections (UTIs) was markedly elevated (p < 0.05). Antibiotics were dispensed without a prescription for diarrheal diseases in over 50% of pharmacies, with Metronidazole (n = 23, 11%), Azithromycin (n = 16, 7.6%), and Rifaximin (n = 15, 7.1%) being the most often prescribed. In all bivariate and multivariate models, male gender was associated with reduced likelihood (COR: 0.30, 95% CI: 0.12-0.72; p = 0.0079 and AOR: 0.03, 95% CI: 0.005-0.15; p = 0.0001). Individuals aged 30 years and older exhibited increased odds of dispensing in both bivariate (COR: 3.67, 95% CI: 1.69-8.87; p =…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a cross-sectional, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause. Reported size: 23 participants or records.
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