Abstract
Dispensing antibiotics without a medical prescription (DAwMP) is a critical issue worldwide especially in the countries such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt. Pharmacists knowledge, attitude and practices play a fundamental role in preventing access to non-prescribed antibiotics. Accordingly, our study was designed to estimate the number of pharmacists who have a tendency to dispense antibiotics without a medical prescription; and to realize the factors which are associated with such behaviour which would help in the designation of certain strategies to minimise the impact of this problem. A cross-sectional survey was organized using structured and validated questionnaire targeting community pharmacists in most parts of Al-Kharj city and parts of Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia, between September and October 2017. A four-block systemic questionnaire was used to request community pharmacists to complete 26 items in the English language. Of 175 community pharmacists contacted, 155 completed and returned the questionnaire. 87.1% of the community pharmacists were Egyptian and only (2.7%) were Saudis. The majority of the pharmacists (79.6%) did not know that DAwMP is illegal in Saudi Arabia. The most common reasons for DAwMP were lack of patients compliance to consult a physician (67.35%) and inability to afford a consultation with a physician (58.5%). Great number of the pharmacists surveyed (89.12%) claimed that they always educate patients about the importance and completion of the antibiotic course. The elevated rates of DAwMP in Saudi Arabia may be due to lack of awareness of regulations and policies forbidding dispensing antibiotics without a prescription. This is mainly due to a high number of foreign community pharmacists in Saudi Arabia. Comprehensive plans and strategies consisting of educational interventions targeting general public as well as the community pharmacists, and strict application policies regarding DAwMP could lead to a reduction of the self-use of antibiotics.