Title:Knowledge, Perception, and Practices on the Labelling of Dispensed
Medicine among Community Pharmacists and General Practitioners in the
State of Sarawak, Malaysia
Volume: 19
Issue: 1
Author(s): Luqman Nulhakim Bin Said*, Loo Shing Chyi, Benodict Apok Anak Talin, Augustine Law Foo Khiong, Izzah Alia Binti Mohamad Rosli, Jessica Low Pei Sze and Ridhwan bin Abdul Razak
Affiliation:
- Sarawak State Health Department, Sarawak Pharmacy Enforcement Branch, Kuching, Malaysia
Keywords:
Community pharmacists, general practitioners, labelling of dispensed medicine, FIP, median knowledge, pilottested.
Abstract:
Background: The labelling of dispensed medicines (LDM) ensures that optimum therapeutic
treatment levels are achieved, and medication errors are prevented. In Malaysia, LDM is
enforced under the Poisons Act 1952.
Objective: To explore the knowledge, perception, and practices of community pharmacists (CP)
and general practitioners (GP) on LDM.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2019 until March 2020 among CP and
GP practising in Sarawak, Malaysia. Sample sizes were 90 and 150 for CP and GP, respectively.
Proportionate stratified random sampling was employed. A self-administered structured questionnaire
pre-tested and pilot-tested was used to explore knowledge and perception. Practices were assessed
by having participants prepare dispensed medicine labels (DML) using simulated prescriptions.
Results: 250 participants; 96 CP and 154 GP participated. While most of them perceived that they
knew the requirements of LDM (n = 244; 97.6%), their median knowledge score was poor
(57.1%). The mean knowledge score of CP (62.0%) was significantly higher (P = 0.002) than GP
(51.0%). The majority of participants perceived that LDM is important (n = 237; 94.8%) and necessary
(n = 239; 95.6%) and perceived that poor compliance with the requirements would lead to
medication errors (n = 243; 97.2%). Although their knowledge was poor, their median practice
score (100.0%) was excellent. There was no correlation between knowledge and perception with
the practice of LDM.
Conclusion: The majority of CP and GP perceived that LDM is important. Interestingly, although
their knowledge of the requirements of LDM was poor, their practices were sound.
