Background The lack of definitive cure for COVID-19 and the late introduction of a vaccine were responsible to push the general public to look for a remedy to treat or prevent COVID-19. The objective of this study was to evaluate patterns and factors that affect self-medication practices in Jordan during the pandemic. Methods This was a cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire that was developed, piloted and distributed to the general public via various social media platforms. The questionnaire assessed the type of drugs and treatments used to self-medicate, the reasons behind their self-medication, and the factors affecting their practices. Results A total of 1179 participants (females 46.4%) with a mean age of 32 (SD = 12.5) completed the questionnaire. The overall prevalence of the use of at least one product to treat or prevent COVID-19 was 80.4%. The most commonly used products to self-medicate were vitamin C (57.6%), followed by paracetamol (51.9%), zinc (44.8%) and vitamin D (32.5%). Female gender (odds ratio [OR]) = 1.603, working in the medical field (OR = 1.697), and history of COVID-19 infection (OR = 2.026) were variables associated with self-medication. The most common sources of participants' information about drugs to prevent or treat COVID-19 were newspapers (n = 519, 44.0%), followed by pharmacists (43.4%), friends (33.8%) and internet searching such as Google (30.7%). Conclusion This study identified the main drugs and supplements used during COVID-19 and the motives behind their use. It also identified the most influential source of information on the public during the pandemic. Self-medication can lead to worsening of the patient's health and delay seeking medical advice from healthcare professionals. Efforts should be done to help mitigate risks of self-medications by active involvement of pharmacists and other members of healthcare team to refute false claims about drug, especially in the media.

Preventive and control measures implemented by many countries to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 may negatively impact medication and chronic disease management, which can interfere with achieving patients’ therapeutic goals. This study aims to evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on these aspects, while exploring the role of community pharmacists. A cross-sectional study was conducted via a web-based questionnaire that targeted individuals who suffer from chronic diseases in Jordan. Participants were recruited by convenience sampling and were asked to self-report their ability to access medication, and the perceived role of community pharmacists. Among the 431 participants, the mean age ± SD (years) was 53.8 ± 13.7 and 60.1% (n= 259) were females. Participants mainly reported difficulties in accessing medication (n=198, 45.9%), reduced supplies or unavailability of medications (n=213, 49.4%), nonadherence to medications due to lack of access (n=98, 22.7%) and high costs (n=85, 19.7%). Participants avoided follow-ups due to a fear of infection (n=367, 82.5%) or prolonged waiting time in clinics (n=322, 74.7%). An increased reliance on the community pharmacy for medical advice was reported by 39.9% (n=172) of the participants, with half of them (n=217, 50.3%) depending on the pharmacists for advice regarding over-the-counter medications and COVID-19-related information (n=119, 27.6%). There is an urgent need to involve community pharmacists in medication and chronic disease management with a focus on patient adherence to ensure the optimal management of such vulnerable patient groups. Future studies to assess the effect of pharmacists’ contributions towards enhancing medication/disease management are warranted.

Background: Pharmaceutical compounding is an essential component in pharmacy practice allowing pharmacists to provide dosage forms or strengths that are commercially unavailable. Medications compounded for patient-specific needs contribute to personalized medicine. Extemporaneous compounding provided by pharmacies overcomes the market shortage of these therapeutic products. The aim of this study is to investigate and characterize the prevalence, characteristics, and determinants of extemporaneous compounding in Jordanian pharmacies. Methods: This study was based on a cross-sectional questionnaire and included 431 randomly selected pharmacies in the twelve governorates of the country. Data were collected via face to face interviews of pharmacists who voluntarily and verbally responded to the questions. Results: Results revealed that 223 (51.7%) of the surveyed pharmacies practiced extemporaneous compounding. The main reason for not providing extemporaneous compounding services was lack of prescription orders for compounded preparations (53.8%). The second reason was lack of the equipment and supplies necessary for compounding (24.4%). Extemporaneous compounding prescriptions were mainly issued by dermatologists (98.2%); dermatological indication was the most common of all extemporaneous compounded prescriptions. The main reason for requesting compounded medications was the lack of a commercially available product (87.9%). The vast majority of the compounded dosage forms were creams (99.6) and ointments (91.5), followed by solutions (23.3%). Only 5 (2.2%) of the studied compounding pharmacies prepared sterile products. The major sources for compounding protocols were the physician order (94.2%), and ‘in-house’ protocols (44.8%). However, the main resource for estimating compounded medications expiration date was information based on pharmacist’s experience (57.8%) and the physician’s order (53.4%). Conclusions: Extemporaneous compounding is a common element of pharmaceutical care. Topical preparations are the most commonly compounded products. Finding from this study suggest that there is a need for standardizing the compounded product formularies, product quality testing, and improving the consistency in estimation of an expiration date of compounded products.

Pharmacy Practice is a free full-text journal with a scope on the practice of pharmacy. Pharmacy Practice covers pharmaceutical care, social pharmacy, pharmacy education, process and outcome research, health promotion and education, health informatics, pharmacoepidemiology

Opinions of pharmacists and herbalists on herbal medicine use and receiving herbal medicine education in Jordan