Abstract:

Background: Rational use of medicines (RUM) Patients receive medications appropriate to their clinical needs, in doses that meet their own individual requirements, for an adequate period of time and at the lowest cost to them and their community. Dispensers, specifically in community pharmacies are easily accessible to the community in need of medical/pharmaceutical attention. Being the last personnel the patient sees/consult before the initiation of medication, they’re indebted to promotion of RUM through their knowledge and practice. And so good knowledge and practice to promote RUM is highly required from them. Their expertise to be helpful on combating irrational use of medicines which has a serious impact on health and economy that may result in wastage of resources, inappropriate patient demand, serious adverse drug reactions, increased antimicrobial resistance and increased drug-related morbidity and mortality. So, there is a necessity to assess their knowledge and practice in promotion of RUM.

Methodology: A community based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted, and questionnaires were used to collect the data from the dispensers in community pharmacies in Nyamagana district, Mwanza. The dispensers available included pharmacists, pharmaceutical technicians, pharmaceutical assistants and other dispensers (nurses, pharmaceutical dispensers etc.)

Results: Total of 68 dispenser’s participants in the data collection 82.3% had good score, 17.65% had an average score and none had poor knowledge on this section. 94.12% had a good score, 5.88% had a bad score and none had a bad score in the practice session. General good knowledge and practice was observed among dispensers in the community pharmacies.

Conclusion: The overall knowledge and practice of dispensers in promoting use of medicines in community pharmacies in Nyamagana district, Mwanza is good.