2 METHODS
This preliminary cross-sectional explorative study applied simulated patients to gather data on dispensing behavior. Simulated patients were trained in the accessibility of banned drugs existing in the community pharmacies (CP). The availability of these two banned drugs was observed and recorded. The pharmacists were asked about the availability of a PP laxative for treating constipation called in Yemen a khat laxative (Sharbat Alkhat ) and KZ for fungal infections in 50 convenient samples of CPs that were selected based on ease of access by the simulated patients.
A small simulated patient case study was carried out to recognize and eradicate the barriers associated with simulated patients and to prepare a training module. The simulated patient visited two randomly chosen CPs in Aden. During the visit, the simulated patient requested medications to treat symptoms of constipation and fungal infection. All details and observations of the consultation were documented by the simulated patient. The findings suggested poor professional practices in both pharmacies and paved the way for the study to compare the dispensing practices of banned drugs and prohibited medicines in CPs in Aden. These two pharmacies were not included in the major study.
A literature review, case study, and training session informed a simulated patient interview method to observe, assess and compare dispensing practices. Twenty students from the Faculty of Pharmacy Aden University were trained to present as simulated patients to determine the availability of banned and prohibited medicines.
For standardization and validation of the study, the 20 simulated patients were randomly grouped in ten pairs, and each pair was randomly assigned to visit five pharmacies. Each pair of simulated patients in an interchangeable manner visited two pharmacies. Two encounters with two simulated patients resulting in a total of 100 encounters in pharmacies.
The stimulated patient interacted with the staff at the pharmacy and asked questions about the availability of the 2 prohibited medicines PP and KZ in the Yemeni market and recorded the answer of the CPS after each visit to a pharmacy.
Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis.