Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice

Abstract

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of 
B.Sc. Pharmacy students about usage and resistance of antibiotics in Trinidad and Tobago.
Methods: This was a cross‑sectional questionnaire‑based study involving B.Sc. Pharmacy 
students. The questionnaire was divided into five components including Demographics data, 
knowledge about antibiotic use, attitude toward antibiotic use and resistance, self‑antibiotic usage 
and possible causes of antibiotic resistance. Data were analyzed by employing Mann–Whitney 
and Chi‑square tests using SPSS version 20.
Findings: The response rate was 83.07%. The results showed good knowledge of antibiotic 
use among students. The overall attitude of pharmacy students was poor. About 75% of 
participants rarely use antibiotics, whereas self‑decision was the major reason of antibiotic 
use (40.7%) and main source of information was retail pharmacist (42.6%). Common cold and 
flu is a major problem for which antibiotics were mainly utilized by pharmacy students(35.2%).
Conclusion: The study showed good knowledge of pharmacy students regarding antibiotic 
usage. However, students’ attitude towards antibiotic use was poor. The study recommends 
future studies to be conducted with interventional design to improve knowledge and attitude 
of pharmacy students about antibiotic use and resistance.

Abstract

Abstract Phamacoeconomics can aid the policy makers and the healthcare providers in decision making 
in evaluating the affordability of and access to rational drug use. Efficiency is a key concept 
of pharmacoeconomics, and various strategies are suggested for buying the greatest amount 
of benefits for a given resource use. Phamacoeconomic evaluation techniques such as cost 
minimization analysis, cost effectiveness analysis, cost benefit analysis, and cost utilization 
analysis, which support identification and quantification of cost of drugs, are conducted in a 
similar way, but vary in measurement of value of health benefits and outcomes. This article 
provides a brief overview about pharmacoeconomics, its utility with respect to the Indian 
pharmaceutical industry, and the expanding insurance system in India. Pharmacoeconomic 
evidences can be utilized to support decisions on licensing, pricing, reimbursement, and 
maintenance of formulary procedure of pharmaceuticals. For the insurance companies to 
give better facility at minimum cost, India must develop the platform for pharmacoeconomics 
with a validating methodology and appropriate training. The role of clinical pharmacists 
including PharmD graduates are expected to be more beneficial than the conventional 
pharmacists, as they will be able to apply the principles of economics in daily basis practice 
in community and hospital pharmacy.