Our study revealed high sales of over-the-counter antibiotics, despite this being illegal. The ineffectiveness of antibiotics in treating respiratory conditions of viral origin and effects of such practice on the emergence of bacterial resistance necessitates prompt action.

INTRODUCTION: Very few studies have investigated pharmacists’ views, experiences and practices regarding the use of antibiotics without prescription. This study aimed to explore through self-report and hypothetical scenarios what factors determine New Zealand pharmacists’ behaviour and attitudes towards non-prescription use of antibiotics. METHODS: A purposeful sample of 35 registered community pharmacists of differing ethnic backgrounds was selected from a mixture of pharmacies that predominantly either serve New Zealand European customers or customers of other ethnicities. Semi-structured interviews including general background questions and six hypothetical scenarios were used for the investigation. Pharmacists’ ethnicity, education, years of experience, and customers’ ethnicity may influence their views, experiences and practices regarding the use of antibiotics without prescription. Customer demand or expectation, business orientation and competitiveness within community pharmacies, standards and practice of fellow pharmacists, ethics and professionalism, legislation, enforcement of the legislation, and apprehension of the consequences of such practice were hypothesised to have an effect on antibiotic use or supply without prescription by pharmacists. FINDINGS: The supply of antibiotics without prescription is not common practice in New Zealand. However, personal use of antibiotics without prescription by pharmacists may have been underestimated. Pharmacists were aware of legalities surrounding selling and using antibiotics and practised accordingly, yet many used antibiotics without prescription to treat themselves and/or spouses or partners. Many pharmacists also reported that under certain legislative, and regulatory and situational conditions they would sell antibiotics without a prescription. CONCLUSION: Views and practices regarding antibiotic use without prescription by community pharmacists require further exploration. KEYWORDS: Non-prescription antibiotics; hypothetical scenarios; legislation enforcement; New Zealand

Objective: The purpose of this study was to report second year pharmacy students' experience after using a virtual dispensing program. Methods:Thirty three second year pharmacy students were invited to participate in this study, after completing 14 three-hour tutorials using a virtual dispensing program, over two semesters. They completed a survey consisting of; three demographic questions, 20 unpaired items requiring responses on a Likert Scale and three open-ended questions about their views and recommendations for enhancing their learning experience. A focus group discussion was conducted to allow the students to elaborate on their open-ended responses. Students' responses were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively using summary statistics.Results: All the students (100%) "agreed" or "strongly agreed" that the virtual dispensing program was a useful pharmacy practice learning tool. They reported that it improved their understanding of the dispensing process (97%), the legal and professional requirements for dispensing prescription medicines (94%), as well as other pharmacy practice material taught in lectures (97%). Only 18% "agreed" or "strongly agreed" that the virtual dispensing program did not facilitate their learning. Modifying the characteristics and appearance of the avatars used in the program to match the local context, augmenting virtual dispensing tutorials with hands-on dispensing experience using commercially available dispensing programs and observational placements at community and hospital pharmacies, are some of the recommendations made by students to enhance their learning about the dispensing process. Conclusion:Overall the students in our study were satisfied with the use of a virtual dispensing program in learning about the dispensing process. They enjoyed using the program and found it to be a beneficial tool for pharmacy practice education.

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