Skills and practices of pharmacy staff for dispensing of drugs with fiscalized substances in drugstores and pharmacies

Abstract

OBJETIVE To evaluate the skills and practices of pharmacy staff during the dispensing of tramadol (drug with fiscalized substance) in drugstores and pharmacies in Medellin, Colombia. METHODS A cross-sectional study was performed. The simulated patient technique was used. The main outcomes included the information provided on the dispensed drug (tramadol), the use of tools to provide information, and the information provided on drug precautions and use recommendations. RESULTS We visited 305 drugstores and pharmacies. The average dispensing time was 2.3 min (SD 1.1 min). In nine drugstores and pharmacies (3.0%), tramadol was not dispensed because it was not in stock. In 17 drugstores and pharmacies (5.7%), the simulated patients were actively informed by the dispensing pharmacy staff; of these, 16 provided oral information and one provided oral and written information. Eight patients (2.7%) received information regarding tramadol use. However, 99% of patients were not informed about tramadol side effects such as dependence, sedation, or hypnosis, and none of the simulated female patients were informed on the precautions related to tramadol use during pregnancy or lactation. CONCLUSIONS Communication skills and appropriate practices of pharmacy staff are critical to patient self-care. However, this study shows their difficulty in counseling about precautions and use recommendations of drugs with fiscalized substances. These outcomes could inform future studies focusing on the rational use of these drugs in drugstores and pharmacies. It is necessary to improve the pharmacy staff competencies through continuing education programs, to facilitate access to information and training.

MyDispense simulation in pharmacy education: a scoping review

“…The development of such skills is a core focus of pharmacy institutions to prepare students for their future practice [ 50 ]. Previously, methods such as curriculum modification and reflective practice were implemented to assist students with this process [ 51 ], however, implementation of simulation programs, such as MyDispense, have become more popular due to their convenience and applicability, this is because although the dispensing process may seem simple, it is time consuming and can be influenced by several factors, including the pharmacist's education, knowledge, professional remuneration, competency and communication skills [ 52 ]. Hence, it requires regular practice, and MyDispense was shown to be an effective tool in helping students develop these key skills.…”

Community pharmacists’ skills and practice regarding dispensing fiscalized substances: a cross-sectional survey

“…Dispensing is a process that results in a patient leaving drugstores and pharmacies with a specified quantity of drugs and instructions/precautions on drug use. Hence, in the course of dispensation, the pharmacy staff should provide adequate relevant data and information to guarantee the safe and appropriate use of medication by patients ( Ceballos et al, 2021 ). The respondents in this study affirmed that they provided information on the proper use of tramadol and moderate practice scores, possibly due to their education, training on fiscalized substances, and work experience.…”

“…Based on a thorough literature review, a structured questionnaire got constructed ( Ceballos et al, 2020 ; Ceballos et al, 2021 ). This was modified step by step to suit the UAE context ensuring the coverage of the key research points.…”

Effectiveness of a continuing education program of drugs with fiscalized substance to improve pharmacy staff competencies: a multicenter, cluster-randomized controlled trial

“…If the final result of the simulated patient achieved between 70-100% of these guidelines, the process was considered good; if it achieved between 40-70%, it was considered fair and <40% bad. 25 …”