1. Marium Azfar 2. Nausheen Khawar 3. Isma Sajjad

1. Asstt. Prof. of Community Dentistry, Sindh Institute of Oral Health Sciences, JSMU, Karachi 2. Asstt. Prof. of

Dental Material Sciences, FJDC, Karachi 3. Asstt. Prof. of Operative Dentistry, Sindh Institute of Oral Health Sciences, JSMU, Karachi

ABSTRACT

Objective: This study was done to see the pharmacist practices in rural areas where no account is taken for doses, side effects and administration of OTCs. This study provides evidence of mishaps being done with poor and uneducated population of remote areas regarding unsafe practices of  non-prescription medicines, and to assess the knowledge of pharmacists regarding the indications, contraindications, doses and side effects of various over-thecounter medicines in District Mirpurkhas.

Study Design: An analytical cross-sectional study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in District Mirpurkhas from June 2011 to July 2012. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out to collect data on pre-structured, self-administer questionnaire asking questions regarding demographic variables, qualifications/ experience of pharmacists in the field, license of pharmacists, knowledge of pharmacists regarding indications, contraindications, side effects, doses, route of administration of various OTC medicines.

Result: The current study was undertaken in district Mirpurkhas. 97 pharmacies/medical stores/ general stores/ super stores where chosen randomly. The person who used to sell medicine there was asked to fill the questionnaire. Beyond this point this study will use term pharmacist for all the respondents who used to sell medicine and consented for this study. The mean age of respondent was 34.93%, their attitude and type of qualification of seller as well as type of shop and availability of license and their experience of selling the medicine.

Conclusion: Pharmacist in district Mirpurkhas are less knowledgeable regarding the indications, contraindication, side effects, doses and routes of administrations of OTC medicines. They neither take care while selling these OTC medicines to addiction patients nor advise the safety measures to their customers.  Key Words: Practices of Pharmacists, Counter Medicines, Attitude, Mirpurkhas District

Citation of article: Azfar M, Khawar N, Sajjad I. Assess the Attitude and Practices of Pharmacists regarding Selling of Various Over the Counter Medicines in Mirpurkhas District. Med Forum 2015;26(11):61-65.