Abstract

THE ROLE OF PHARMACIST AS AN ADVISOR ON RESPONSIBLE SELF-MEDICATION: A SURVEY

Antoaneta Tsvetkova, Anna Todorova, Valentina Petkova

ABSTRACT

The mission of pharmaceutical profession is to supply medicines and other products and services to patients, as well as to provide the public with advice on the most rational use of these products. The purpose of this study is to examine pharmacists‟ attitude towards the use of nonprescription medicines (OTC), as well as pharmacists‟ opinion about their role in patient counselling on self-medication. A survey questionnaire is used for the interview of pharmacists in randomly chosen pharmacies of different size and location in the city of Varna. Research results show that an increasing number of patients seeks self-medication, motivated by the convenience and the time-saving effect of the purchase of OTC medicines. Correspondingly, the importance of the pharmacist‟s role as an advisor to the public on responsible self-medication and appropriate health care is constantly growing. The effects of advertisements, abundant sources of information, free access to various medicines, and deregulations of pharmaceutical markets pose a serious risk to patients‟ health. To avert medical complications, pharmacists should render services that ensure the proper use of drug produacts and the prevention of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). The outcome of treatment and medication should be a shared responsibility between pharmacists, physicians and patients.

Keywords: ???, self-medication, pharmacist, consultation.