Table 3 Practices of the retail pharmacy staff related to identification and referral of the presumptive tuberculosis (TB) patients and sale of anti-TB drugs in the DI Khan city, Pakistan
Number (%) | |
|---|---|
Total participants | 82 (100) |
Suspected TB patients per week | |
0 | 28 (34) |
1–2 | 47 (57) |
3–5 | 7 (9) |
Referral of suspected TB patients | |
Nearby laboratory | 22 (27) |
Nearby GP | 19 (23) |
Chest physician | 65 (79) |
TB DOTS centre | 0 (0) |
No referral | |
Dispense broad spectrum antibiotics | 11 (13) |
Dispense cough syrup | 28 (34) |
Dispense anti-TB drugs | 1 (1) |
TB patients with a doctor’s prescription | 82 (100) |
Prescriped duration of anti-TB drugs | |
6 months | 62 (76) |
9 months | 16 (19) |
Do not know | 4 (5) |
Number of prescribed anti-TB drugs | |
2 medicines | 25 (30) |
3 medicines | 39 (48) |
4 medicines | 18 (22) |
Vitamin B6 supplement in prescription | 73 (89) |
Frequently sold TB medicines | |
4-FDC-RHZE combination | 82 (100) |
3-FDC-RHE combination | 7 (8) |
2-FDC-RH combination | 79 (96) |
Isoniazid | 1 (1) |
Pyrazinamide | 0 (0) |
Ethambutol | 0 (0) |
Streptomycin | 28 (34) |
Kanamycin | 4 (5) |
Patients buy anti-TB medicines | |
1 month | 7 (8) |
2 months | 11 (13) |
3 months | 22 (27) |
4 months | 3 (4) |
6 months | 35 (43) |
9 months | 4 (5) |