Praktické lekárnictvo 1/2021

Influence of pharmaceutical form on drug choice in selected diseases

The pharmaceutical form and ways of administration of a drug may have a major influence on the treatment course, its safety and outcomes. The choice of a suitable pharmaceutical form along with an individual approach to the patient and his/her condition is at least as significant as the choice of the drug itself. Both excipients and the manufacturing technology can affect the pharmacokinetics at all levels, from drug liberation up to elimination. So, it is important that the pharmacy personnel are well-aware of the properties of the pharmaceutical forms and ways of their administration, their advantages and disadvantages. The aim of our research was to obtain information about the popularity and marketability of individual pharmaceutical forms, considering the ways of administration of selected OTC (Over the Counter) drugs, according to the opinion of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians themselves in selected diseases and symptoms, and also to find out what or who influences patients the most when choosing a particular pharmaceutical form of OTC drugs. Two survey questionnaires were used to achieve this goal (one aimed at pharmacists and pharmacy technicians and another one at patients). The survey aimed at pharmacists and pharmacy technicians was conducted between March and June 2017 with the participation of 153 pharmacists and 27 pharmacy technicians. The survey aimed at patients was conducted between April and June 2017 with the participation of 112 respondents. The results show that up to 83.9% of pharmacy professionals believe that the advantages and disadvantages or the availability and unavailability of individual pharmaceutical forms influence the patient when making a decision. This influence was confirmed by 63.4% of the patients involved in the survey. The most important factor in the patient‘s decision on the choice of pharmaceutical form were pieces of advice of pharmacists and pharmaceutical technicians given right in pharmacies, as stated by 41.1% of the pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. 33.9% of the patients supported this statement and that was a vast majority of responses in both questionnaires. The choice of a suitable pharmaceutical form along with an individual approach to the patient and his/her condition is at least as significant as the choice of the drug itself. The role of pharmacists and pharmaceutical technicians is to assist patients in selecting an appropriate pharmaceutical form for the treatment of their disease in the process of self-treatment.

Keywords: pharmaceutical care, pharmaceutical form, counselling, community pharmacist