Acute Respiratory Tract Infection, Non-Prescription Drug Misuse
Conditions
Keywords
antibiotic, community pharmacy, non-prescription, randomized controlled trial
Brief summary
This study was a randomized controlled trial conducted in community pharmacies. Empirical data were collected primarily using standardized patient methods. In Hubei Province, 400 community pharmacies were randomly selected and assigned to the intervention group and the control group according to the ratio of 1:1. A one-month intervention was conducted in community pharmacies in the intervention group, which included both social surveillance and health education. First, on-site training was provided to community pharmacy staff. Respiratory physicians and pediatricians were invited to give health education lectures on disease diagnosis and treatment, medication use, etc. Second, signs were posted or hung in the community pharmacies of the intervention group, saying that antibiotics need to be purchased with a prescription, and you are welcome to call the 12315 hotline to report if you find any sales without a prescription, in order to open up the channels of social supervision and to form a social surveillance intervention. The control group only received the regular drug supervision and management measures in Hubei Province. The primary outcome is to observe the proportion of community pharmacies selling antibiotics without a prescription.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALsocial surveillance and health education interventions
Social surveillance: In the intervention group retail pharmacies posted or hung signs antibiotics need to be purchased by prescription, if found without prescription sales, welcome to call 12315 hotline to report, to form social supervision intervention. Health education: On-site training for retail pharmacy staff, inviting respiratory physicians and pediatricians to give health education lectures on disease diagnosis, treatment and medication.
Sponsors
Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)
Masking description
Pharmacies participating in the study did not know which group they were assigned to. Standardized patient surveyors also did not know which group of pharmacies they surveyed.
Intervention model description
In parallel arm design, subjects are randomized to one or more study arms and each study arm will be allocated a different intervention. After randomization each subject stays in their assigned treatment arm for the duration of the study. Subjects receive the same treatment throughout the trial. The results are then compared
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* The qualification of retail pharmacies to sell antimicrobial drugs complies with relevant regulations and requirements, ensuring that the study participants operate legally within the regulatory framework. * Pharmacies located in Hubei Province.
Exclusion criteria
* The retail pharmacy plans to undergo major changes during the study period, such as relocation, renovation, shutdown, or closure; * Retail pharmacies that refused to respond to the call for training from the Hubei Provincial Drug Administration; * Participants had poor compliance and do not participate in the intervention as required by the trial on multiple occasions; * Subjects withdrew from the study on their own or were lost to follow-up.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Proportion of antibiotics dispensing without a prescription | baseline, First month after intervention, 3, 6, and 12 months after intervention | Proportion of antibiotics dispensing without a prescription measured by standardized patients |
Countries
China
Outcome results
None listed