A study on determining the opinions and attitudes of community pharmacists about non-pharmaceutical medicinal products

Year 2019, Volume: 23 Issue: 1, 147 - 155, 27.06.2025

Gizem Aykaç Gülpınar , Servet Dolu Mehmet Barlas Uzun , Gülbin Özçelikay

Abstract

Social change and changing needs of today’s people bring about a service concept that includes both prescription drugs and non-prescription drugs (over the counter medicines and parapharmaceuticals) are offered to clients. Community pharmacists who are the most accessible healthcare providers begin to focus on selling (parapharmaceuticals) non-pharmaceutical medicinal products (NPMPs) that are seen more profitable and require less bureaucratic processes. Assuming that the dilemmas often experienced by community pharmacists between the “businessman” and “healthcare giver” roles could affect their attitudes and opinions about NPMPs. The study, which is designed from this point of departure, is aimed at revealing the opinions of community pharmacists about NPMPs, their knowledge NPMPs and their attitudes such as sales of these products and their policy arrangements. A face to face questionnaire was distributed to 244 community pharmacists in Ankara. According to the results, it was determined that the rate of NPMP sales in total turnover and the pharmacy settlement affect the opinions and attitudes on the subject of the community pharmacists. Most of the pharmacists' "business owner" roles have been shown to influence their attitudes towards drugs and NPMPs, whether their NPMP sales are excessive or not.

Keywords

Community pharmacist , community pharmacy , non-drug products , ethical dilemma , opinion and attitude.

References

• [1] T.C. Resmi Gazete, Beşeri Tıbbi Ürünlerin Sınıflandırılmasına Dair Yönetmelik. http://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2005/02/20050217-4.htm, (accessed March 20, 2018).
• [2] Aronson, JK. From prescription-only to over-the-counter medicines (‘PoM to P’): time for an intermediate category. Br Med Bull. 2009; 90(1): 63-69.
• [3] Kanzık, İ. OTC ve reklam. Aylık Gün Eczacılık Dergisi. 1993; 8.
• [4] Gülpınar G, Özçelikay G. OTC drug regulations in Turkey: the opinions of community pharmacists and drug industry. Turk J Pharm Sci. 2015; 12(3): 267-278. [CrossRef]
• [5] Türk Eczacıları Birliği AR-GE Birimi Rapor Dizisi-1, Reçetesiz İlaçlar ve İlaç Dışı Ürünler: Betimleme ve Müdahale 2009. http://95.0.129.28/tebdownload.php?file=images/upld2/tebfarmasotik, (accessed March 20, 2018).
• [6] T.C. Resmi Gazete, Eczacılar ve Eczaneler Hakkında Yönetmelik. http://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/Metin.Aspx?MevzuatKod=7.5.19569&sourceXmlSearch=eczac%C4%B1lar&MevzuatIliski=0, (accessed March 20, 2018).
• [7] Atikeler EK, Özçelikay G. Comparison of pharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement systems in Turkey and certain EU countries. SpringerPlus. 2016; 5(1): 1876. [CrossRef]
• [8] Dogac A, Yuksel M, Ertürkmen GL, Kabak Y, Namlı T, Yıldız MH, Ay Y, Ceyhan B, Hülür U, Öztürk H, Atabakan E. Healthcare Information Technology Infrastructures in Turkey. Yearbook of Medical Informatics. 2014; 9(1): 228-234. [CrossRef]
• [9] Sağlık Uygulama Tebliğ. http://www.sutrehberi.com/sut-ana-metni, (accessed Febuary 23, 2018).
• [10] Chang ZG, Kennedy DT, Holdford DA, Small RE. Pharmacists’ knowledge and attitudes toward herbal medicine. Ann Pharmacother. 2000; 34(6): 710-715. [CrossRef]
• [11] Chen X, Oi Lam ung C, Hu H, Liu X, Zhao J, Hu Y, Li P, Yang Q. Community pharmacists’ perceptions about pharmaceutical care of traditional medicine products: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study in Guangzhou, China. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2016; 3: 1-10. [CrossRef]
• [12] Naidu S, Wilkinson JM, Simpson MD. Attitudes of Australian pharmacists toward complementary and alternative medicines. Ann Pharmacother. 2005; 39(9): 1456-61. [CrossRef]
• [13] Yüksel CA. Eczacıların reçetesiz ilaçların karşı tutumlarının genel tutum ortalamasından farkı ve tutumlarla demografik ve eczane özellikleri arasında ilişkinin incelenmesi üzerine pilot bir araştırma. J School Bus Adm Istanbul Uni. 2001; 12(38): 41-52.
• [14] Kwan D, Boon HS, Hirschkorn K, Welsh S, Jurgens T, Eccott L, Heschuk S, Griener GG, Cohen-Kohler JC. Exploring consumer and pharmacist views on the professional role of the pharmacist with respect to natural health products: a study of focus groups. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2008; 8:40. [CrossRef]
• [15] Resnik DB, Ranelli PL, Resnik SP. The conflict between ethics and business in community pharmacy: What about patient counseling? J Bus Ethics. 2000; 28: 179–186. [CrossRef]
• [16] Boon H, Hirschkorn K, Griener G, Cali M. The ethics of dietary supplements and natural health products in pharmacy practice: A systematic documentary analysis. Int J Pharm Pract. 2009; 17(1): 31-38. [CrossRef]
• [17] Anderson S. The state of the world's pharmacy: a portrait of the pharmacy profession. J Interprof Care. 2002; 16(4): 391-404. [CrossRef]
• [18] Clark BE, Mount JK. Pharmacy service orientation: A measure of organizational culture in pharmacy practice sites. Res Social Adm Pharm. 2006; 2(1): 110-128. [CrossRef]
• [19] Hepler CD, Strand LM. Opportunities and responsibilities in pharmaceutical care. Am J Hosp Pharm. 1990; 47(3): 533-543.
• [20] Taylor K, Harding G. The community pharmacist: over qualified dispenser or health professional? J R Coll Gen Pract. 1989; 39(322): 209-210.
• [21] Potnis PS. Masters Thesis. Ohio pharmacists’ perceptions of over-the-counter drug advertising. College of Graduate Studies, University of Toledo, Ohio, USA, 2012. http://utdr.utoledo.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1427&context=theses-dissertations, (acessed May 25, 2017).
• [22] Sansgiry S, Sharp WT, Sansgiry SS. Accuracy of information on printed over-the-counter drug advertisements. Health Mark Q. 2008; 17(2): 7-18. [CrossRef]
• [23] Koh HL, Teo HH, Ng HL. Pharmacists' patterns of use, knowledge, and attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine. J Altern Complement Med. 2003; 9(1): 51-63.
• [24] Semple SJ, Hotham E, Rao D, Martin K, Smith CA, Bloustien FG. Community pharmacists in Australia: Barriers to information provision on complementary and alternative medicines. Pharm World Sci. 2006; 28: 366-73. [CrossRef]