Abstract:

Background: Retail drug shops are a large source of health care and drugs in many countries In Tanzania retail drugs shops are widely used particularly in rural and areas where there is no good accessibility of health. And accredited Drug Dispensing Outlets (ADDO) selling over-the-counter and a limited range of prescription drugs. ADDO dispensers are trained to deliver quality pharmaceutical services including good dispensing practice and provision of proper drug information to clients; this includes dispensing of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs).

Methodology: The study was descriptive cross-sectional study that involves the administration of self-structured questionnaires to ADDO dispensers in Ilemela and Nyamagana districts.

Results/Discussion: Concerning the knowledge of ADDO dispensers regarding NSAIDs, the study indicated that 99.17% of the participants had knowledge on NSAIDs. And 66.12% of the participants could rightly pick out and correctly identify a NSAID from among other drugs. Also, 100% of the participants knew the proper use of NSAIDs. In determining the practice of ADDO dispensers, 85.95% of the participants used generic names of the NSAIDs when they dispensing or counseling the clients about NSAIDs.

Conclusion: The ADDO dispensers demonstrated sufficient knowledge in regard to NSAIDs for them to practices as ADDO dispensers.

Conclusion: The ADDO dispensers demonstrated sufficient knowledge in regard to NSAIDs for them to practice as ADDO dispensers. On the other hand, the ADDO dispensers showed a good level of practice with regard to NSAIDs dispensing practice. They managed well their clients by providing the necessary information needed for proper use of the medications.