EVALUATION OF MEASURE IMPLEMENTATION OF INAPPROPRIATE DRUG USE SELLING REPORT

Abstract

An Implementation of the measure for inappropriate drug use that requires drugstore licensees to fill drug buyer’s names in drug control selling forms may affect related stakeholders. This study therefore aimed to evaluate the measure by surveying the opinions of drug buyers and providers toward the measure via mail from April 1 to July 15, 2016. A Stakeholder focus group meeting was also scheduled in August 26, 2016. The survey results show that most customers (43.0%) bought the medicine listed in the measure as advised by drugstore owners. 74.8% of respondents realized inappropriate drug use, specifically Tramadol. Most channels that the respondents recognized are social media and community pharmacists. In addition, 82.5% of customers who reported their names when buying drugs listed in the measure knew that a drugstore needed their names to fill in a drug control selling form. The study samples believed that this measure caused complicated steps in medicine purchasing, which resulted in lowering their satisfaction. From the viewpoint of drugstore workers, a drugstore played a vital role in decreasing inappropriate drug use problems however only this measure was not sufficient to solve all the problems. Moreover, this measure consumed more service time because drugstore owners had to give a reason why they had to require drug buyer’s names. Drug expenditure time also increased due to this measure. The results from stakeholder’s focus group demonstrated that this measure could not fulfill the objectives due to a lack of controlling every step of the drug distribution system, especially drug manufacturing, importing, and online selling. Additionally, the drug listed in the measure should be reviewed. In conclusion, Food and Drug Administration as the measure implementation organization should provide public relations regarding the measure to people and all stakeholders for more understanding by means of all communication channels. The list of medicines in the measure should be reviewed. The use of other measures to reduce inappropriate drug use problems is also highly recommended.