Table 5.
Practices of pharmacists towards antibiotic dispensing and resistance.
| Question | Always | Often | Sometimes | Rarely | Never |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n (%) | |||||
| I dispense antibiotics without prescription upon patient request | 40 (26.3) | 13 (8.6) | 38 (25) | 33 (21.7) | 28 (18.4) |
| I dispense antibiotics without prescription for adult patients with minor bacterial infections | 4 (2.6) | 45 (29.6) | 56 (36.8) | 25 (16.4) | 22 (14.5) |
| I encourage patients to obtain a physician's consult and prescription | 57 (37.5) | 34 (22.4) | 39 (25.7) | 20 (13.2) | 2 (1.3) |
| When dispensing antibiotics, I enquire about any known drug allergies or health problems | 85 (55.9) | 18 (11.8) | 32 (21.1) | 14 (9.2) | 3 (2) |
| When dispensing antibiotics without prescription, I warn about their potential adverse effects | 45 (29.6) | 27 (17.8) | 36 (23.7) | 34 (22.4) | 10 (6.6) |
| When dispensing antibiotics without prescription, I inform patients about the significance of adhering and completing the full course of an antibiotic | 54 (35.5) | 34 (22.4) | 23 (15.1) | 32 (21.1) | 9 (5.9) |
| I dispense antibiotics without prescription on the patient's request for a familiar patient | 33 (21.7) | 23 (15.1) | 45 (29.6) | 27 (17.8) | 24 (15.8) |
| I seek additional clinical information (e.g., drug interaction, ADRs, allergy) before deciding to dispense antibiotics without a prescription | 25 (16.4) | 31 (20.4) | 45 (29.6) | 29 (19.1) | 22 (14.5) |