KNOWLEDGE OF PRACTICING DRUG DISPENSERS ABOUT MEDICATION SAFETY DURING PREGNANCY
Rahi Bikram Thapa*, Sabin Shrestha*, Nayem Uddin Prince and Subash Karki
ABSTRACT
Background: Drug dispensers, including pharmacists, assistant pharmacists, and professionals (Bavayashai), are crucial healthcare providers in improving medication use, particularly among pregnant women in their communities. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate drug dispensers' knowledge about medication safety during pregnancy. Method: A cross-sectional survey was carried out on practicing drug dispensers in the Dharan City of Nepal. They were asked about the safety of each medicine during pregnancy. It involved both Prescription-only medicine and Over-the-counter medications. Both descriptive and analytic statistics were utilized. Results: Most drug dispensers have poor knowledge of the safety of dietary supplements (Vitamin A and Caffeine) and Temazepam. While 54.2% believe alprazolam is unsafe, 15.8% assess its use based on a risk-benefit analysis. Only 15.8% know tetracycline should be used if the benefits outweigh the risks, and 43.3% deem amoxicillin safe. The majority (79.2%) recognize ethinylestradiol as unsafe for pregnant women. About 38% identify valproic acid as unsafe, and 20% assess lamotrigine based on benefit-risk. For analgesics, 55.8% know acetaminophen is safe, but there is uncertainty about aspirin and ibuprofen use during pregnancy. Few are aware that pseudoephedrine hydrochloride should be used only if the benefits outweigh the risks. Significant associations were found between dispensers' education, their practice of asking about pregnancy status, and their knowledge of medication safety during pregnancy (P<0.05). Conclusion: Drug dispensers are the most accessible healthcare providers who can help pregnant women with their medication use. There are still gaps in knowledge where educational interventions are needed.
Keywords: Teratogenic drugs, Pregnancy, Risk to fetus, Drug dispensers, Counseling.
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