(311) Community Pharmacists' Vigilance Towards OTC Medication Abuse in Saudi Arabia

Saturday, August 27, 2022

8:00 AM – 6:00 PM CEST

Location: Hall C

Publication Number: 985

Presenting Author(s)

Ahmed I. Fathelrahman, PhD, M.Sc.
– Associate Professor , College of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia, College of Pharmacy, Taif University , Taif, Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Co-Author(s)

Mona Y Alsheikh, PharmD, MSc, PhD, FHEA
– Assistant Professor, Taif University, Taif, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
Ali M. Alshahrani
– Clinical Pharmacy Department, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia, Taif, Saudi Arabia

Background: There is a misunderstanding that OTC medications are absolutely safe compared to prescription-only medications since they are widely available and easily accessible. However, several OTC medications may be liable to abuse, and have potential to cause addiction and dependency. Studying OTC medication abuse represents an urgent area of research that assist in establishing a platform for reducing their harms.

Objectives: This study was designed to explore community pharmacists’ vigilance towards OTC medication’s abuse in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed between November 2021 and January 2022. A self-administered web-based questionnaire was used to collect data from community pharmacists across Saudi Arabia. The present findings represent a descriptive analysis of the data.

Results: Six hundred eighty-eight community pharmacists completed the survey. Most of them were male (87.9%), non-Saudi (78.5%), bachelor’s degree holders (80.5%), and aged less than forty years old (92.9%). By geographical regions, highest proportion were from Makkah region (39%), followed by Riyadh (25.6%), Asir (13.2%) and Eastern region (12,2%). On average, using 5-points Likert scale, pharmacists rated the possible risk of addiction to OTC medication as average (score of 2.99). OTC classes considered posing a risk for developing an addiction by most respondents were codeine-containing products (82.8%), followed by cough suppressants/ antitussives (69.25), and sleep aids (67.3%). Using 5-points Likert scale, they rated OTC medications risk for developing an addiction as follows codeine (3.81), dextromethorphan (3.24), diphenhydramine (2.78), ephedrine (2.66), pseudoephedrine (2.42), caffeine (2.4). Dealing with a suspicious patient/customer who may be abusing an OTC medication, most respondents said they would provide advice to patients as necessary (88.5%), refer to a physician (87.5%), provide information leaflets and counseling about the abuse potential of the product (75.1%), refusing sale (70.3%) and investigate on the patient/customer suspicious behavior (67.3%). On 5-points Likert scale, top-rated barriers for preventing OTC medication abuse were lack of patient records on OTC medications use (3.2), workload (3.11), and shortage of workforce in a pharmacy led to reduced focus/attention (2.9).

Conclusions: Most community pharmacists in Saudi Arabia are aware of OTC medication abuse and they hold a positive attitude towards controlling them. A clear policy and guidelines about purchasing limit and monitoring OTC abuse should be established urgently.