Dispensing of non-prescribed antibiotics in Jordan

Figures & data

Table 1 Percentage of pharmacies dispensing antibiotics with no prescription with regard to level of demand

Level of demand	Sore throat, n=41	Acute sinusitis, n=39	Otitis media, n=38	Diarrhea, n=42	UTI, n=42	Total, n=202
Level one	39 (95.1%)	3 (7.7%)	25 (65.8%)	24 (57.1%)	30 (71.4%)	121 (59.9%)
Level two	0 (0%)	4 (10.3%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	4 (2%)
Level three	1 (2.4%)	8 (20.5%)	1 (2.6%)	10 (23.8%)	5 (11.9%)	25 (12.4%)
Total	40 (97.6%)	15 (48.5%)	26 (68.4%)	34 (81%)	35 (83.3%)	150 (74.3%)

Notes: Level 1, represents the lowest level of demand as the investigator asked for something to alleviate the symptoms; while Level 3 represents the highest level of demand by directly asking the pharmacist for an antibiotic.

Abbreviation: UTI, urinary tract infection.

Table 2 Pharmacists’ inquiries and recommendations in response to the simulated clinical scenarios

Simulated clinical scenario	Explained how to take the antibiotic	Explained the duration of treatment	Asked about drug allergy	Asked about concomitant use of other drugs	Recommended consulting a physician	Dispensed antibiotic
Sore throat, n=40	35 (87.5%)	7 (17.5%)	18 (45%)	1 (2.5%)	0 (0%)	Penicillins (45%)
						Penicillin/penicillinase inhibitor (32.5%)
						First-Gen cephalosporins (10%)
Acute sinusitis, n=15	14 (93.3%)	1 (6.7%)	4 (26.7%)	4 (26.7%)	0 (0%)	Penicillins (20%)
						Fluoroquinolones (20%)
						Macrolides (20%)
Otitis media, n=26	26 (100%)	3 (11.5%)	0 (0%)	3 (11.5%)	4 (15.4%)	Choramphenicol (19.2%)
						Penicillins (15.4%)
						Macrolides (11.5%)
Diarrhea, n=34	34 (100%)	7 (20.6%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	1 (2.9%)	Antiprotozoals (79.4%)
						Sulfonamides (5.9%)
						FQ (2.9%)
UTI, n=35	34 (97.1%)	7 (20%)	1 (2.9%)	0 (0%)	1 (2.9%)	Fluoroquinolones (80%)
						Third-Gen cephalosporins (5.7%)

Abbreviations: UTI, urinary tract infection; Gen, generation; FQ, fluoroquinolones.

Table 3 The percentage of antibiotic dispensing refusal and recommendations

	Sore throat, n=1	Acute sinusitis, n=24	Otitis media, n=12	Diarrhea, n=8	UTI, n=7	Total, n=52
Antibiotic dispensing refusal based on health concerns	1 (100%)	24 (100%)	12 (100%)	8 (100%)	7 (100%)	52 (100%)
Recommended medical evaluation	0 (0%)	3 (14.3%)	9 (75%)	1 (12.5%)	6 (85.7%)	19 (36.5%)

Abbreviation: UTI, urinary tract infection.