Comparison of the Knowledge and Practices in Medicine Dispensing between Retail Medicine Shops and Model Pharmacies in Dhaka Metropolis
Table 1
Scenarios of medicine dispensing pattern presented by two simulated clients both in retail medicine shops and model pharmacies.
Scenario: buying various prescription medicines without prescription by the 1st simulated client
The 1st simulated client was a 21 year-old unmarried female buying medicine for his father for various complications. The medications include antibiotics, cardiovascular drugs, sex stimulants, and psychotic drugs. She speaks Bengali and follows the following scripts.
(Start) I would like to buy these medicines for my father
Then, she presented a written paper with all medicine names in a small amount. The paper is not a prescription; the client waited for dispensers’ responses and expecting answers to some questions that provide information which are shown in Tables 2–5
Then, the simulated client was waiting for further response from the dispenser to collect all medicines and observed the dispensing pattern of other pharmacists selling drugs with or without prescriptions. She also asked the dispenser about dosage regimen, storage conditions, and ingestion criteria of medicines (described in Tables 2–5)
Afterward, the 2nd simulated client started observing how pharmacists provide information on selling medicines to other customers who came to buy drugs
(Start) Excuse me; I have come here to buy some medicine for my father; probably you too came here to buy some medication; which drug are you going to buy?
After getting a response from a nearby customer, the 2nd simulation client tried to collect her desired information from customers. She also observed whether the customers were seeking a pharmacist for advice regarding health complications, and an “A”-grade pharmacist was present in the pharmacy at that time
Both 1st and 2nd simulated clients asked some questions which are described separately in Tables 2–5. Those questions are preassigned
