Evaluation of Pharmacists' Knowledge Dealing with Gastrointestinal Complaints and Preferred Over-the-counter Prescriptions

Abstract

Over-the-counter (OTC) or non-prescription drugs are a large category of drugs that do not require a doctor's prescription to get them from a pharmacy. This study was aimed to investigate the knowledge of pharmacists employed in the Shahrekord pharmacies in encountering with gastrointestinal complaints and favorite OTC prescription. The statistical population of the study was pharmacists working in pharmacies in Shahrekord city. According to the information obtained from the Deputy of Food and Drug of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, 51 pharmacists in 40 pharmacies in Shahrekord during 2021. A two-part questionnaire was developed by the investigators. After collecting the data, the information was entered into the software (SPSS version 21) to analyze the data. The mean knowledge score in this study was 12.70 ± 1.96 (minimum 8, maximum 17), and the pharmacists' knowledge level regarding gastrointestinal complaints and appropriate OTC drug prescriptions was 74.1. OTC drug training had significant statistical relationship with pharmacists' knowledge scores (p=0.002). The pharmacists working in Shahrekord pharmacies demonstrated average knowledge in managing gastrointestinal complaints and providing appropriate over-the-counter prescriptions. As a result, it is essential to offer specific courses to enhance their expertise in this area. Furthermore, the research findings indicate that the current retraining courses for pharmacists may not adequately address their awareness of various diseases and should be reassessed accordingly. © 2025, Islamic Azad University. All rights reserved.