A survey on pharmaceutical ethic codes regarding OTC drugs in the pharmacies of Tabriz

Abstract

In the last few decades, pharmacy practice has changed from a simple dispensing to a good relationship between pharmacists, patients and health care system. Pharmacist is a person who employs his/her knowledge and skills in ethical codes to inform patients with consultation. With the development of science in the treatment, drug delivery and new terms such as occupational ethics have been considered. Therefore, issues like patient's right, Autonomy and patients consent, relationship between business and pharmacy practice, quality, safety and effectiveness of drugs, ethical issues in pharmacy practice with probable latent harms, and so on have been found so important. Objective: In the present study, following a bibliography about pharmaceutical ethics around the world, we designed a questionnaire including some multiple-choice questions then studied effective factors on pharmacy ethics in the pharmacies of Tabriz and obtained important results. Materials and methods: One hundred pharmacies in Tabriz were randomly selected for the study and the questionnaires were filled. The results were analyzed by chi-square test using SPSS software (ver.16). Results: The statistical analyzing of data by chi-square test using spss software (version 16) showed an average level of regarding ethical codes related to OTC drugs in the pharmacies. After analyzing by chi-square test using spss software it didn't show significant difference in regarding of ethical codes of OTC drugs in two of genders, the type of activity and the pharmacy locations. Conclusion: Being busy of pharmacies had a decisive role in regarding of ethical codes. There was a significant difference between quality of consulting of prescribed and OTC drugs in busy pharmacies.