Table 1 Characteristics of the selected studies

Abdelaziz et al. [18]

Egypt

To examine antibiotic dispensing patterns in Egyptian community pharmacies

Cross-sectional

Abubakar and Tangiisuran [19]

Nigeria

To evaluate knowledge, perception, and practices of pharmacists towards dispensing antibiotics without prescription

Cross-sectional

Abuirmeileh et al. [30]

Jordan

To investigate the common practice of dispensing ABs without prescription in community pharmacies

Qualitative

Abujheisha and Ahmed [41]

Saudi Arabia

To estimate the pharmacists who tend to dispense antibiotics without a prescription; and the factors associate

Cross-sectional

Alabid et al. [47]

Malaysia

To explore, assessed and compared dispensing of antibiotics between Pharmacist and General Practitioners

Cross-sectional

Almaaytah et al. [48]

Jordan

To assess of pharmacies that dispense antibiotics without a prescription and identify the seriousness of such practices

Cross-sectional

Al-Tannir et al. [49]

Saudi Arabia

To assess of non-prescribed antibiotic sales by pharmacies and compare it with the findings from our 2011 study

Cross-sectional

Amirthalingam et al. [50]

Malaysia

To assess Pharmacists’ Perceptions and Experiences of Antibacterial Drug Dispensing in Community Pharmacy

Cross-sectional

Bahnassi [51]

Saudi Arabia

To investigate pharmacists’ practices through conducting, including direct questions and hypothetical scenarios

Qualitative

Bahnassi [52]

Syria

To investigate the Syrian pharmacists’ attitudes and practices regarding antibiotic dispensing without prescription

Qualitative

Beaucage et al. [20]

Canada

The impact of a pharmacist telephone follow-up on clinical, costs for patients undergoing antibiotic treatment

Cross-sectional

Bin Abdulhak et al. [21]

Saudi Arabia

To determine the pharmacies who sell antibiotics without prescriptions, examining the potential risks of such practice

Cross-sectional

Chang et al. [22]

China

To quantify sales of antibiotics without a prescription and to assess the quality of services in community pharmacies

Cross-sectional

Chang et al. [23]

China

To quantify non-prescription dispensing of antibiotics at community pharmacies

Cross-sectional and longitudinal

Chowdhury et al. [24]

Bangladesh

To evaluate the impact of an educational intervention to promote guidelines for better acute respiratory illness

Cross-sectional

Contopoulos-Ioannidis et al. [25]

Greece

To evaluate the extent of and factors that determine the inappropriate use of antibiotics without a prescription

Cross-sectional

Erku and Aberra [26]

Ethiopia

To document motivations behind non-prescribed sale of antibiotics among community medicine retail outlets

Cross-sectional

Guinovart et al. [27]

Spain

To evaluate the information provided by the staff of the pharmacy to a simulated patient requesting an antibiotic

Cross-sectional

Hadi et al. [28]

Saudi Arabia

To evaluate knowledge, attitude, and practices of pharmacists towards dispensing antibiotics without prescription

Cross-sectional

Halboup et al. [29]

Yemen

To assess the practice of community pharmacists regarding dispensing antibiotics without a prescription

Cross-sectional

Hallit et al. [31]

Lebanon

To assess practices of pharmacists towards prescribing or dispensing antibiotics without prescription to children

Cross-sectional

Horumpende et al. [32]

Tanzania

To Assess antibiotic dispensing practices by community pharmacy and recommend interventions to improve practice

Cross-sectional

Hoxha et al. [33]

Albanian

To evaluate pharmacists’ tendency to dispense antibiotics without prescription

Cross-sectional

Kalungia et al. [34]

Zambia

Ascertain the extent of non-prescription sales and dispensing of antibiotics in community pharmacies

Cross-sectional

Koji et al. [35]

Ethiopia

To determine the rate of over-the-counter dispensary of antibiotics for common childhood illnesses

Cross-sectional

Llor and Cots [36]

Spain

To quantify the percentage of pharmacies selling antibiotics without an official medical prescription

Cross-sectional

Mansour and Al-Kayalib [37]

Syria

To explore pharmacists’ knowledge, attitudes, and dispensing habits with respect to antibiotics and microbial resistance, in view of the potential link between these and the practice of dispensing of antibiotics without a medical prescription

Cross-sectional

Nyazema et al. [38]

Zimbabwean

To assess the quality of private pharmacy practice with a focus on the extent of antibiotic sales without prescription

Cross-sectional

Puspitasari et al. [39]

Indonesian

To quantify antibiotics sales without a prescription and to explore provision of patient assessment and medicine information related to antibiotics requested with or without a prescription

Cross-sectional

Rauber et al. [40]

Brazil

To evaluate the antibiotics dispensation

Cross-sectional

Shet et al. [42]

India

To determine prevalence of non-prescription sale of antimicrobial drugs by pharmacies

Cross-sectional

Shi et al. [43]

China

To assess non-prescription antibiotic dispensing and assess pharmacy service practice at community pharmacies

Cross-sectional

Yaacoub et al. [44]

Lebanon

To evaluate the antibiotic prescribing rate for acute bacterial rhinosinusitis in community pharmacies and to study the corresponding attitude and behavior of participants

Cross-sectional

Zawahir et al. [45]

Sri Lankan

To evaluate the response of community pharmacy staff to an antibiotic product request without a prescription and to explore possible factors influencing such practice

Cross-sectional

Zawahir et al. [46]

Sri Lankan

To assess responses of community pharmacy staff to pseudo-patients presenting with symptoms of common infections and factors associated with such behaviour

Cross-sectional