COMMUNITY PHARMACISTS' EXPERTISE AND APPROACH TO THE SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF MEDICATIONS (HERBS AND ALLOPATHIC) THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY PERIOD
Main Article Content
Keywords
Pregnancy, community pharmacists, herbs, allopathic medications, safety, efficacy
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine Pakistani community pharmacists' expertise and approach regarding the safety and effectiveness of both allopathic and herbal medicines during pregnancy. During the three months of 1st November 2023 to 30th January 2024, an online questionnaire was used to conduct a cross-sectional study in multi-setting of Pakistan. SPSS version 26 was used to analyze the data. The relationship between approach scores and other continuous factors, such as age and years of experience, was examined using the Mann-Whitney U Test. There were total 185 participants. Among them, 69.1% females and 30.9% were males. In overall, 82.15 populations were having post-graduation and only 17.9% have only graduation. Data were collected from both community pharmacists and obstetrician & gynecologists. Moreover, 74.6% were having professional experience of >5 years. Most of the respondents reported inquire about the pregnancy status always (60.6%), sometimes (31.9%), and 1.1% never inquire for status. When faced with uncertainty about drug safety, 74.6% indicated that they would refer to authentic sources, and 54.1% would advise pregnant women to consult their physicians when requesting a potentially contraindicated drug. Nearly half (51.2%) of the participants contacted the prescribing physician to explore safer options. As per study approach, 74.50% allopathic mediation and 44.60% herbs are safe to use throughout pregnancy while 17.30% allopathic mediation and 22.40% herbs are unsafe to use throughout pregnancy. A higher knowledge score was significantly associated with receiving a post-graduation degree (p= 0.002). In conclusion, the study's findings demonstrated that community pharmacists adhere to safe practices and possess expertise in utilizing drugs safely while pregnant. Higher knowledge scores were linked to post-graduation. Consequently, the survey participants felt strongly that there was a need for seminars, sessions, and educational programs focused on herbal medicines.
References
2. Xin, R. K. W., Yee, T. W., Qin, W. Z., Kaiyee, L., Mohammed, A. H., Blebil, A., ... & Lim, A. (2024). Community pharmacists' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding counselling on vitamins and dietary supplements in Malaysia: A study on complementary medicines. Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy, 13, 100410.
3. Ung, C. O. L., Kbar, N., Aslani, P., Smith, L., Gelissen, I. C., & Harnett, J. E. (2023). Pharmacy education in traditional and complementary medicines–A systematic review. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy.
4. Al-Share, S. (2022). The perceptions and awareness of Australian pregnant and breastfeeding women of the risks/safety of complementary medicine products.
5. Tülek, E., Yarici, F., Yavuz, D. Ö., Modu, M. B., & Meriçli, F. (2021). Herbal Medicines use in Pregnancy in Northern Cyprus. Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International, 33(43A), 487-504.
6. Choudhury, A., Singh, P. A., Bajwa, N., Dash, S., & Bisht, P. (2023). Pharmacovigilance of herbal medicines: Concerns and future prospects. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 116383.
7. Hassen, G., Belete, G., Carrera, K. G., Iriowen, R. O., Araya, H., Alemu, T., ... & DEBELE, T. K. (2022). Clinical implications of herbal supplements in conventional medical practice: a US perspective. Cureus, 14(7).
8. Saggar, S., Mir, P. A., Kumar, N., Chawla, A., Uppal, J., & Kaur, A. (2022). Traditional and herbal medicines: Opportunities and challenges. Pharmacognosy Research, 14(2).
9. Mitchell, J., & Goodman, J. (2018). Comparative effects of antidepressant medications and untreated major depression on pregnancy outcomes: a systematic review. Archives of women's mental health, 21, 505-516.
10. Alem, G., Awuonda, M., Haastrup, D., Anyiwo, A., Daftary, M., & Ettienne, E. (2022). Evaluation of knowledge of the new Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling Rule among pharmacists and physicians. Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, 62(2), 427-431.
11. Pinheiro, E. A., & Stika, C. S. (2020, April). Drugs in pregnancy: pharmacologic and physiologic changes that affect clinical care. In Seminars in perinatology (Vol. 44, No. 3, p. 151221). WB Saunders.
12. Quzmar, Y., Istiatieh, Z., Nabulsi, H., Zyoud, S. E. H., & Al-Jabi, S. W. (2021). The use of complementary and alternative medicine during pregnancy: a cross-sectional study from Palestine. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 21, 1-10.
13. Sohel Mahmud, Sharmin Ara Yasmin, Nahal Mostak Khan, Soheb Ahmed Robin & Lutfullahil Khabir (2024). Demographic Profile & Associated Risk Factors of Patients with Retinal Vein Occlusion in a Tertiary Eye Hospital. Dinkum Journal of Medical Innovations, 3(01):64-71.
14. Surachhya Sharma (2024). Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Hormonal Contraceptives and Incidences of ADR among Users. Dinkum Journal of Medical Innovations, 3(02):199-213.
15. Dr. Shovit Dutta (2024). Knowledge & Practice about Personal Hygiene among Primary School Students in Rural Chattogram, Bangladesh . Dinkum Journal of Medical Innovations, 3(02):72-88.
16. Dr. Anupama Sharma, Dr. Himanshu Shah & Dr. Vandana Mourya (2024). The evaluation of maternal morbidity and perinatal morbidity & mortality in Breech Delivery and Its Comparison with Mode of Delivery. Dinkum Journal of Medical Innovations, 3(02):89-101.
17. Dr. Md. Hasan Moshiur Shawon & Prof. Dr. Shanjoy Kumar Paul (2024). Risk Factors of Urinary Tract Infection Caused by Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases-Producing Bacteria in Children . Dinkum Journal of Medical Innovations, 3(02):102-117.
18. Muhammad Abdullah Al Amin, Abdul Mumin, A.K.M Shahariar Kabir, Rifat Ara Noor, Md Atiqur Rahman, Urmi Rahman & Fatema Marzia Nur (2024). Role of Dexamethasone in the Management of Acute Ischaemic Stroke in a Tertiary Hospital: A Randomized Clinical Study . Dinkum Journal of Medical Innovations, 3(02):118-131.
19. Dr. Nabin Kumar Sinjali Magar, Dr. Dhruba Gaire & Dr. Prasanna Bahadur Amatya (2024). Evaluation of Pulmonary Hypertension in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) by assessment of Chest X- Ray, ECG and Echocardiography. Dinkum Journal of Medical Innovations, 3(02):132-144.
20. Dr. Rosina Paudel, Dr. Dhan Keshar Khadka & Dr. Arpana Rijal (2024). Clinico-epidemiological Profile of Adult Acne and factors Associated with Adult Acne . Dinkum Journal of Medical Innovations, 3(02):145-164.
21. Dr. Sangam Pokharel, Dr. Rajesh Yadav, Dr. Anima Pradhan & Dr. Ashmita Paudel (2024). Comparative Study of Bupivacaine 0.5% and Ropivacaine 0.75% Epidurally In Lower Limb Orthopedic Surgeries. Dinkum Journal of Medical Innovations, 3(02):165-173.
22. Ms. Saroja Poudel & Dr. Rajesh Niraula (2024). Comprehensive study of Placenta Previa & Its Psychological Consequences. Dinkum Journal of Medical Innovations, 3(02):174-187.
23. Dr. Sujan Pradhan, Dr. Sabi Rana, Dr. Property Bhandari, Dr. Ozone Shrestha & Dr. Pranjal Shrestha (2024). The Correlation of Hearing Loss with Site & Size in Tympanic Membrane Perforation. Dinkum Journal of Medical Innovations, 3(02):188-198.
24. Zulfiqar, R., Khuwaja, I. G., Hussain, S. S., Bhuiyan, M. D. A., Shazu, S., Ijaz, H. S., ... & Judi, H. K. (2023). Artificial Intelligence As A Diagnostic Tool In Medicine And Community Dentistry: A Systematic Literature. Artificial Intelligence, 54(09).
25. Abdul Mumin, Abdullah Al Amin, A.K.M. Shahriar Kabir, Rifat Ara Noor & Urmi Rahman (2024). Role of C- Reactive Protein (CRP) and Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) in detecting severity & Predicting outcome of Acute Pancreatitis patients. Dinkum Journal of Medical Innovations, 3(01):01-12.
26. Dr. Prabin Kumar Jha, Dr. Bindu Laxmi Shah, Dr. Shruti Kumari Thakur & Dr. Avinash Thakur (2024). Effectiveness of Dexamethasone as an Adjuvant to Bupivacaine in Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block. Dinkum Journal of Medical Innovations, 3(01):13-25.
27. Nahal Mostak Khan, Soheb Ahmed Robin, Lutfullahil Khabir & Sohel Mahmud (2024). Role of Vitamin C in Development of Age Related Cataract. Dinkum Journal of Medical Innovations, 3(01):26-34.
28. Nistha Thapa, Puja Gartaula & Pushpa Chand Thakuri (2024). Knowledge of hygienic food-handling Practices among street Food vendors in Dhading Besi, District Dhading, Nepal. Dinkum Journal of Medical Innovations, 3(01):35-51.
29. Zulfiqar, R., Khuwaja, I. G., Hussain, S. S., Bhuiyan, M. D. A., Shazu, S., Ijaz, H. S., ... & Judi, H. K. (2023). Artificial Intelligence As A Diagnostic Tool In Medicine And Community Dentistry: A Systematic Literature. Artificial Intelligence, 54(09).
30. Dr. Md. Salah Uddin (2024). Correlation between Duration of Preoperative Motor Deficit and Early Postoperative Motor Functional Recovery in Patients with Intradural Extramedullary Spinal Tumor. Dinkum Journal of Medical Innovations, 3(01):52-63.
31. Mostafa, S. M., Tinny, S. S., Abbas, S., Anwar, A. S., Nasir, M., Naser, M. S., ... & Zulfiqar, R. (2024). Artificial Intelligence To Support Health Decision Support A Fast Changing Field Interplay Between Human Expertise And Ai-Algorithms. Artificial Intelligence, 69(03).
32. Awan, N. U., Malik, U., Azam, M., Nasrullah, A., Tahir, F., Zulfiqar, R., & Awais, A. (2024). Behavioral And Emotional Difficulties In Hearing Impaired Children And Adolescents: A Systematic Review. Kurdish Studies, 12(4), 544-554.
33. Zulfiqar, R., Khuwaja, I. G., Hussain, S. S., Bhuiyan, M. D. A., Shazu, S., Ijaz, H. S., ... & Judi, H. K. (2023). Artificial Intelligence As A Diagnostic Tool In Medicine And Community Dentistry: A Systematic Literature. Artificial Intelligence, 54(09).
34. Ali-Shtayeh, M. S., Jamous, R. M., & Jamous, R. M. (2015). Plants used during pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum and infant healthcare in Palestine. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 21(2), 84-93.
35. Eid, A. M., & Jaradat, N. (2020). Public knowledge, attitude, and practice on herbal remedies used during pregnancy and lactation in West Bank Palestine. Frontiers in pharmacology, 11, 490472.
36. Blouin, R. A., & Adams, M. L. (2017). The role of the pharmacist in health care: expanding and evolving. North Carolina medical journal, 78(3), 165-167.
37. Bush, P. W., & Daniels, R. (2017). Health care systems and transitions of care: implication on interdisciplinary pharmacy services. North Carolina medical journal, 78(3), 177-180.
38. Al-Ramahi, R., Alkhaleq, A., Malawani, A., Laboom, K., Rajab, S., & Kittani, S. (2016). The Present and Future of Pharmaceutical Care in Palestine: A Survey among Pharmacists. Palestinian Medical and Pharmaceutical Journal, 1(2), 3.
39. Shraim, N. Y., Al Taha, T. A., Qawasmeh, R. F., Jarrar, H. N., Shtaya, M. A., Shayeb, L. A., & Sweileh, W. M. (2017). Knowledge, attitudes and practices of community pharmacists on generic medicines in Palestine: a cross-sectional study. BMC health services research, 17, 1-9.
40. Radwan, A., Sweileh, A., Shraim, W. A., Hroub, A., Elaraj, J., & Shraim, N. (2018). Evaluation of community pharmacists’ knowledge and awareness of food–drug interactions in Palestine. International journal of clinical pharmacy, 40, 668-675.
Article Sidebar
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All articles published in JPTCP are licensed under Copyright Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Jehan Ara
Assistant Professor, Department of obstetrics and gynecology, Gajju Khan Medical College / Bacha Khan Medical Complex, Swabi, Pakistan
Aneesa Sadiq
Assistant Professor, Department of obstetrics and gynecology, Gajju Khan Medical College/ Bacha Khan Medical Complex, Swabi, Pakistan
Huma Fiaz
Consultant obstetrician and Gynecologist, Department of Obstetrics And Gynecology, Fauji Foundation Hospital, Karachi
Saima Bukhari
Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad, Pakistan
Faiza Shaheen
Lecturer, Department of Pharmacology, Frontier Medical and Dental College Abbottabad, Pakistan
Surraya Israr
Associate Professor, Department of obstetrics and gynecology, Gajju Khan Medical College / Bacha Khan Medical Complex, Swabi, Pakistan
Rabia Zulfiqar
King Edward Medical University/Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
Haq Nawaz
Head of Department and Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad