Prevalence of and Factors Affecting Inappropriate Sale of Drugs in Grocery Stores within Phitsanulok Province

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the situation and determine the factors affecting the inappropriate distribution of drugs in grocery stores in Phitsanulok. Method: This study was cross-sectional analytical research, collecting data from 332 grocery stores randomly selected from a total of 4,227 stores in Phitsanulok. Data were collected by pharmacists and officials of public health offices, responsible for consumer protection in all districts, who had received training on procedure and instruments for collecting the data. Results: Of the grocery stores in Phitsanulok, 47.9% distributed inappropriate drugs. The percentages of grocery stores selling “non-household and non-antibiotics drugs”, antimicrobial agents, ya-Chud (several drugs in the same package intended to use for treating a particular condition) and drugs containing steroids were 82.4%, 62.3%, 9.4% and 3.8%, respectively. Drugs with no registration numbers were not identified in the study. The most prevalent non-household and non-antibiotic drugs were paracetamol (packages with more than 10 tablets), followed by diclofenac and piroxicam. The most commonly found antibiotic was tetracycline, followed by penicillins and amoxycillin. Most steroid-containing drugs were drugs for external use. The majority of ya-chud were painkillers, followed by treatments for the common cold and allergy/itching. The most common sources of drugs in the grocery stores were modern drugstores, followed by wholesale stores, “modern drugstores for non-hazardous drug packages or specially controlled medicines” or type 2 drugstores, and other drug-selling grocery stores. The motivations for distribution of inappropriate drugs most commonly reported by the subjects were the needs of the community/request for drug selling, followed by demand for profit and being advised by pharmacies to sell the drugs. Grocery stores that were both retail and wholesale were significantly more likely to sell inappropriate drugs (P=0.041). The staff in grocery stores who had not been trained/advised by public health personnel on the law prohibiting the sale of drugs together with grocery products, were significantly more likely to sell inappropriate drugs than their counterparts (P=0.001). Community demand, demand for profits, advice from acquaintances, and advice from pharmacies significantly increased the possibility of selling inappropriate drugs (P<0.001). Conclusion: Nearly half of grocery stores in Phitsanulok distribute inappropriate drugs. This may lead to unsafe use of drugs. All parties should work collectively to resolve this problem.