Integrated Pharmacy Research and Practice (Aug 2024)
Pharmaceutical Drug Promotion and Rational Drug Use: Assessment of Healthcare Workers Perspective
Abstract
Churchill Akena,1 Musa Ssemanda,2 Ahmed Hamed Saleh Abdelaziz,3 Edson Ireeta Munanura4 1Pharmacovigilance Department, Wide spectrum Enterprises (U) Limited, Kampala, Uganda; 2Department of Product Marketing, Wide spectrum Enterprises (U) Limited, Kampala, Uganda; 3Executive Department, Wide spectrum Enterprises (U) Limited, Kampala, Uganda; 4Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Science, Makerere University, Kampala, UgandaCorrespondence: Churchill Akena, Pot 141, Tufnel Drive, Kampala, Uganda, Tel +256759393907, Email [email protected]: Pharmaceutical drug promotion has the potential to improve rational drug use by creating awareness among healthcare workers and patients as well as increasing access to life-saving medicines. This study aimed to determine whether pharmaceutical drug promotion can improve rational drug use among healthcare workers.Methods: Semi-structured questionnaires were filled by selected dispensers and prescribers in central Uganda. Forms of pharmaceutical drug promotion, sources of drug information, and views on the influence of drug promotion on rational drug use were investigated. Associations amongst selected variables were tested at bivariate and multivariate levels.Results: Of the 383 participants enrolled in the study, 49.6% were dispensers. More dispensers (49.0%, 92/188) favored 1 on 1 discussion whereas prescribers (32.0%, 61/191) preferred continuous medical education. Most dispensers (85.6%, 161/188) and prescribers (68.6%, 131/191) reported that drug promotion influences their choice of drug use, with most (dispensers: 85.1%, 160/188 vs prescribers: 72.3%, 1/191) admittedly relying on drug promotion as their primary source of drug information.Conclusion: Pharmaceutical drug promotion influences prescription and dispensing practices among health workers, and it should be strictly regulated to ensure accurate and essential information for health workers while prioritizing rational use of medicines.Keywords: pharmaceutical industry, drug promotion, rational prescribing, rational dispensing
