KHẢO SÁT THỰC TRẠNG KỸ NĂNG THỰC HÀNH CỦA NGƯỜI BÁN THUỐC ĐỐI VỚI BỆNH TIÊU CHẢY CẤP Ở TRẺ EM TẠI CÁC CƠ SỞ BÁN LẺ THUỐC TRÊN ĐỊA BÀN THÀNH PHỐ CẦN THƠ NĂM 2021

Abstract

Background: Acute diarrhea is a prevalent childhood illness that can cause severe dehydration and pose a significant mortality risk if not managed properly. It is also among the top 5 infectious diseases with the highest incidence in Can Tho city. Since community pharmacies are frequently the first point of entry to the national healthcare system, insightful investigations and findings on the current situations of actual practices of pharmacy personnel assist regulatory authorities in implementing more stringent and rational policies to improve medication distributors’ skills. Objectives: To quantify the proportions of drug outlet retailers performing professional skills, namely, inquiring about information, consulting, and providing guidelines for customers for acute diarrhea in Can Tho city in 2021. Sample and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive research at 108 drugstores in 9 districts in Can Tho was conducted in the year 2021 utilizing the technique of simulated patients. Results: Age (96.3%), weight (44.4%), frequency of passing stools (48.1%), and the time incurring symptoms of diarrhea (36.1%) are the most commonly asked information by the drug sellers, respectively. Regarding therapeutic recommendations, roughly half (53.7%) of the surveyed ones advise ensuring adequate fluids and electrolytes intake. Meanwhile, we registered the respective proportions of pharmacy staff with instructions on dosage, times per day, days of the entire therapy, and when to take medicines in a single day are 79.6%, 44.4%, 70.4%, and 43.5%. By contrast, the remaining information was done at a surprisingly low rate, which is by far under expectations. Female pharmacy staff had a higher total score for professional performance when compared to their male counterparts. Conclusions: Similar to the majority of regions in Vietnam, community pharmacists in Can Tho city have not yet met the average standards imposed by managerial agencies.