Role of a Pharmacist in the Safe Self-medication – A Questionnaire-based Survey

Aims: This study aimed to investigate whether the place of the survey makes a significant impact on the responses regarding the process of self-medication, as well as the present pharmacists’ engagement in this process in the Sarajevo Canton.

Study Design: An anonymous questionnaire-based survey.

Place and Duration of Study: One public pharmacy and various public places in the Sarajevo Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina, for five months, February–June 2019.

Methodology: A total of 312 respondents was included. The first group (165 respondents) was surveyed in the pharmacy after buying an over-the-counter (OTC) drug, and the second group (147 respondents) was surveyed outside the pharmacy.

Results: Pharmacists instructed 65% of respondents (72.73% in the first group and 57.14% in the second group) on how to take the purchased OTC drug and checked whether 55% of respondents (70.91% in the first group and 38.1% in the second group) bought an appropriate drug for their health problem. Only 25% of respondents (36.36% in the first group and 12.24% in the second group) was informed about the adverse effects, whereas 29% of respondents (41.82% in the first group and 14.97% in the second group) was informed about the potential contraindications or interactions of the purchased OTC drug. The statistical analysis showed a significant relationship between the responses to the questions and the place of the survey about providing information on the adverse effects (P = .03), comorbidities (P = .049), and general information about the purchased OTC drug (P = .04).

Conclusion: In the Sarajevo Canton, pharmacists should be more actively involved in the process of self-medication and provide the necessary advice to patients consuming OTC drugs. Further research is needed so general conclusions could be drawn.