ArticleBMC health services research2022
Over-the-counter sale of antibiotics during COVID-19 outbreak by community pharmacies in Saudi Arabia: a simulated client study.
Article in BMC health services research, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers.
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Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed, 19 citations in OpenAlex.
- Medication Recommendation, Counseling, and Pricing for Nasal Sprays in German Community Pharmacies: A Simulated Patient Investigation.Advances in respiratory medicine · 2025Article
- Assessing Community Pharmacists' Management of Acute Diarrhea in Saudi Arabia: A Simulated Patient Study.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Community Pharmacists' Knowledge in Managing Minor Ailments: A Focus on Childhood Gastroenteritis in Saudi Arabia Using a Simulated Patient Approach.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Microbial Profiles and Clinical Outcomes in Orbital and Preseptal Cellulitis.Microorganisms · 2024Article
- Risk factors associated with multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae infections: a multicenter observational study in Lebanese hospitals.BMC public health · 2024Observational
- Informal sale of antibiotics in Guatemalan convenience stores before and after implementation of federal antibiotic dispensing legislation.BMC pharmacology & toxicology · 2024Article
- Healthcare commissioners' experience with antibiotic resistance during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia: a qualitative study.Journal of pharmaceutical policy and practice · 2024Article
- Antibiotic prescribing practices in community and clinical settings during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nairobi, Kenya.PLOS global public health · 2024Article
- Managing infectious diarrhea among young children in community pharmacies in Saudi Arabia and the implications for AMR.Frontiers in pediatrics · 2024Article
- Antimicrobial stewardship in private pharmacies in Wakiso district, Uganda: a qualitative study.Journal of pharmaceutical policy and practice · 2023Article
- Leveraging the COVID-19 pandemic as a natural experiment to assess changes in antibiotic use and antibiotic-resistant E. coli carriage in semi-rural Ecuador.Scientific reports · 2023Observational
- Use of antimicrobials during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study among stakeholders in Nepal.PLOS global public health · 2023Article
- Article
- Self-Medication with Antibiotics during COVID-19 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region Countries: A Review.Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Review
- Assessing the pharmaceutical care provision to suspected COVID-19 patients in community pharmacies: a simulated patient study.BMC health services research · 2022Article
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Authors and funding
1 author at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundRecent studies have reflected increased global concern regarding the possible acceleration of bacterial resistance secondary to the reported overuse and misuse of antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the nonprescribed sale of antibiotics by community pharmacies in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 outbreak and the pharmacists' skills in triaging COVID-19 suspects.
methodsHerein, 120 pharmacies were randomly selected and surveyed by simulated clients who presented gradual demands to convince the encountered pharmacists to agree to the over-the-counter sale of antibiotics. The pharmacists' responses and counseling skills were documented in addition to their effectiveness in triaging suspected COVID-19 cases.
resultsNineteen pharmacists (15.8%) were convinced to sell nonprescribed antibiotics after various levels of demand by clients. Moreover, twenty pharmacists (16.7%), who refused to sell nonprescribed antibiotics, referred the clients to clinics where they could easily obtain prescriptions, or to other pharmacies that violate the system. In addition, 29 pharmacists (24.2%) were not concerned about possible COVID-19 suspects, and 47-66 (39.2-55%) of them demonstrated different responses and recommendations. Moreover, 12 pharmacists of the 19 who violated the law did not offer any counseling regarding the use of the antibiotics.
conclusionsThe nonprescribed sale of antibiotics is still prevalent and may have increased during the COVID-19 outbreak in Saudi Arabia, thereby increasing the risk of accelerated bacterial resistance. The pharmacists' skills in triaging COVID-19 suspects and patient education and counseling were below expectations. Further follow-up studies are highly recommended.
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