Self-Reported and Actual Involvement of Community Pharmacy Professionals in the Management of Childhood Diarrhea: A Cross-Sectional and Simulated Patient Study at two Towns of Eastern Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Role of community pharmacy professionals is observed in the prevention and treatment of diarrhea and the associated problem of dehydration in children. The aim of this study was to assess self-reported knowledge and actual practices of community pharmacy professionals toward the management of diarrhea in Harar town and Dire Dawa city administration. METHODOLOGY: Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on community pharmacy professionals practicing in community drug outlets of the two towns. Structured questionnaires and simulated patient were used to collect data. RESULTS: A total of 105 community pharmacy professionals from 105 community pharmacies were invited, out of which 69.5% were men. Age was the most frequently taken history in both studies and none of the participants take history about weight of the child, medication history, and nutrition condition in the simulated study. Even though more than 90% of the participants reported to recommend oral rehydration salt (ORS) plus zinc, above 85% of them dispense antimicrobial agents for the simulated patient. Dose (96%), frequency (98%), how to prepare ORS (98%), and duration (98%) were the most frequently given information in the questionnaire survey. However, the simulated study revealed that information about common side effects and major interactions were not given to the patient. CONCLUSION: The study identified that there is a great difference between self-reported knowledge and actual practices on the management of childhood diarrhea in community pharmacies.