Perception and Dispensing Pattern for Dyspepsia at Drug Stores in Khon Kaen Province(Thai)

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to investigate the perception and dispensing pattern of dispensers providing to patients with dyspepsia at drug stores in Khon Kaen province. This study was divided into two phases as follows: the first phase, interviewing dispensers in 91 drug stores and the second phase, collecting data from 2 simulation situation cases. The experience of the drug sellers were 3 to 5 years (n= 30, 33.0%) and 28 dispensers (30.8%) have never attended any training course or conference to increase their knowledge about drug therapy in gastrointestinal tract diseases. From the interview, the dispensers indicated that the symptoms of discomfort of upper abdominal area were abdominal pain (n=66, 72.5%), bloating (n=63, 69.2%) and heartburn (n=35, 38.5%). 12 dispensers (13.2%) indicated that diarrhea was a symptom of discomfort in the upper abdominal area. From the real simulation situation case 1 and case 2, the symptoms interviewed by dispensers were similar. The two most common symptoms interviewed by dispensers were characterized by pain (98.9% and 87.1%, respectively) and site of pain (93.4% and 87.1%, respectively). Dispensers mostly dispensed only one to two items of medicines. The most frequently dispensed medicine for one item was antiflatulent. Frequently, the dispensed medicines with 2 items were a combination of H2 blockers and antiflatulents. These findings suggest that most medicines were dispensed for symptom relief. The lack of long term drug therapy, disease identification or appropriate advice giving may result in an increased duration of dyspepsia.