Table 2 Antimicrobials dispensing practices of studies

Abdelaziz et al. [18]

−

Simulated patient and interview

Case 1: Acute Bronchitis (125)

Case 2: Common Cold (113)

150 community pharmacies

Pharmacists and attendants

(Simulated patient) Asked about:

Patient’s identification—case 1: 36.8% (n = 46); case 2: 37.2% (n = 42);

Doctor visit or prescription—case 1: 3.2% (n = 1); case 2: 3.4% (n = 4);

Patient’s condition—case 1: 0,8% (1);

Symptoms—case 1: 35.2% (n = 44); case 2: 36.3% (n = 41);

Drug allergy—case 1: 1.6% (n = 2); case 2: 0.9% (n = 1)

(Interview) Asked about:

Doctor visit or prescription—33.9% (n = 20);

Patient’s condition—86.4% (n = 51);

Symptoms 66.1% (n = 39)

Others interventions:

Prescription of OTC—case 1: 2.4% (7); case 2: 3.6 (4);

N/R

Abubakar and Tangiisuran [19]

−

Questionnaire

N/A

98 community pharmacist

Pharmacists

Asked about:

Drug allergy—93.9% (n = 92);

Counseling on:

Side effects—79.6% (n = 78);

Contact pharmacist/doctor if necessary—94.9% (n = 93);

Medication adherence—94.9% (n = 93)

Others interventions:

Referral—69.4% (n = 68);

Prescription of OTC—28.6% (n = 28);

Health education—92.9% (n = 91)

Social desirability bias

Didn’t evaluate pharmacists asked their patients about other medications

Abuirmeileh et al. [30]

−

Questionnaire

N/A

54 community pharmacies

Pharmacists

Asked about:

Patient’s condition—70% (n = 38);

The use of other medicines—92% (n = 50);

Drug allergy—94% (n = 51);

Counseling on:

Precautions—90% (n = 49)

N/R

Abujheisha and Ahmed [41]

−

Questionnaire

N/A

155 community pharmacies

Pharmacists

Asked about:

Drug allergy—91.8% (n = 135);

Patient’s condition—87.8% (n = 129);

The use of other medicines—90.4% (n = 133);

Counseling on:

Side effects—Always 90.4% (n = 133);

Medication adherence—Always 94.5% (n = 139),

Others interventions:

Antimicrobial not dispensed—96.6% (n = 142)

N/R

Alabid et al. [47]

−

Simulated patient

Case 1: Common cold;

100 visits to 50 pharmacies

Pharmacists

Asked about:

Patient’s identification—Case 1: 12% (n = 12);

Patient’s symptoms—Case 1: 87% (n = 87);

The use of other medicines—Case 1: 10% (n = 10);

Drug allergy—Case 1: 37% (n = 37)

Small sample size

Diagnosis and prescription can differ

Almaaytah et al. [48]

−

Simulated patient

Case 1: Sore throat (41);

Case 2: Acute sinusitis (39); Case 3: Otitis media (38);

Case 4: Diarrhea (42);

Case 5: Urinary tract infection (42)

202 community pharmacies

Pharmacists

Asked about:

Drug Allergy—Case 1: 45% (n = 18); Case 2: 26.7% (n = 4); Case 5: 2.9% (n = 1);

The use of other medicines—Case 1: 2.5% (n = 1); Case 3: 15.4% (n = 4); Case 4: 2.9% (n = 1); Case 5: 2.9% (n = 1)

Counseling on:

How to take the medicine—Case 1: 87.5% (n = 35); Case 2: 93.3% (n = 14); Case 3: 100% (n = 26); Case 4: 100% (n = 34); Case 5: 97.1% (n = 34);

How long the medicine should be taken—Case 1: 17.5% (n = 7); Case 2: 6.7% (n = 1); Case 3: 11.5% (n = 3); Case 4: 20.6% (n = 7); Case 5: 20% (n = 7);

Others interventions:

Referral—Case 3: 15.4% (n = 4); Case 4: 2.9% (n = 1); Case 5: 2.9% (n = 1)

N/R

Al-Tannir et al. [49]

−

Simulated patient

Case 1: Sore throat (58); Case 2: Acute sinusitis (56); Case 3: Otitis media (54); Case 4: Acute bronchitis (51); Case 5: Diarrhea (57); Case 6: Urinary tract

Infection (51)

327 community pharmacies

Pharmacists

Asked about:

Patient’s symptoms—Case 1: 43.1% (n = 25); Case 2: 66.1% (n = 35); Case 3: 33.3% (n = 18); Case 4: 52.9% (n = 27); Case 5: 54.4% (n = 31); Case 6: 39.2% (n = 20);

Drug allergy—Case 3: 1.9% (n = 1); Case 4: 2% (n = 1); Case 5: 1,8% (n = 1); Case 6: 2% (n = 1)

Counseling on:

Precautions—Case 6: 9.8% (n = 5);

Side effects—Case 4: 33,3% (n = 17); Case 5: 1,8% (n = 1); Case 6: 5,9% (n = 3)

Others interventions:

Referral—Case 1: 72.4% (n = 42); Case 2: 42.9% (n = 74); Case 3: 88.9% (n = 48); Case 4: 68.6% (n = 35); Case 5: 13.3% (n = 7); Case 6: 80.4% (n = 41)

N/R

Amirthalingam et al. [50]

−

Questionnaire

N/A

101 community pharmacist

Pharmacists

Asked about:

Patient’s symptoms—86.4% (n = 89);

The use of other medicines—71.8% (n = 74);

Patient’s condition—64.1% (n = 66);

Counseling on:

Drug indication—95.1% (n = 98);

How to take the medicine—94.2% (n = 97);

Medication adherence—68.9% (n = 71);

Contact pharmacist/doctor if necessary—82.5% (n = 85);

Precautions—91.3% (n = 94)

The sample size small;

Comparisons were not carried

Bahnassi [51]

−

Semi structured interview

N/A

150 community pharmacist

Pharmacists

Counseling on:

Antimicrobial not dispensed—63% (n = 94);

Side effects—33% (n = 49);

Others interventions:

Modify the antimicrobial—43% (n = 64)

Pharmacists’ self-reporting

The interviews were interrupted by customers

Bahnassi [52]

−

Semi-structured interviews

N/A

350 community pharmacies

Pharmacists

Asked about:

Patient’s condition—36% (n = 126)

Counseling on:

Dosing directions—34% (n = 119)

Side effects—47% (n = 165)

Modify the antimicrobial—37% (n = 130)

-Pharmacists’ discussion could be biased

The low number of participants

Beaucage et al. [20]

 + 

Telephone follow-up

Case 1: Lower respiratory tract (42);

Case 2: Upper respiratory tract (38)

6 community pharmacies

Pharmacists

Counseling on:

Precautions—case 1: 28% (n = 22); case 2: 3% (n = 2);

Discontinue antimicrobial—case 1: 2% (n = 2); case 2: 1% (n = 1);

Others interventions:

Prescription OTC—case 1: 36% (n = 29); case 2: 5% (n = 4);

Modify the antimicrobial frequency—case 1: 13% (n = 10); case 2: 1% (1);

Contact pharmacist/doctor if necessary—case 1: 9% (n = 7); case 2: 3%(2)

Referral—case 1: 9% (n = 7); case 2. 3% (n = 2);

Modify the antimicrobial dosage—case 1: 2% (n = 2); case 2: 2% (n = 2);

Modify the antimicrobial—case 1: 2% (n = 2); case 2: 1% (n = 1)

N/R

Bin Abdulhak et al. [21]

−

Simulated patient

Case 1: Sore throat (58); Case 2: Sinusitis (55) Case 3: Otitis (53); Case 4: Bronchitis (44);

Case 5: Diarrhea (59);Case6:Urinary infection (58)

327 community pharmacies

Pharmacists

Asked about:

Patient’s symptoms—Case 1: 40% (n = 23); Case 2: 43% (n = 19); Case 3: 22% (n = 13); Case 4: 62% (n = 36); Case 5: 73% (n = 40); Case 6: 19%(n10)

Patient’s condition—Case 1: 9% (n = 5); Case 2: 25% (n = 11); Case 3: 14% (n = 8); Case 4: 14% (n = 8); Case 5: 9% (n = 5); Case 6: 2% (n = 1)

Counseling on:

Precautions—Case 3: 23% (n = 13)

Others interventions:

Referral—Case 1: 5% (n = 3); Case 2: 14% (n = 6); Case 3: 10% (n = 6); Case 4: 3% (n = 2); Case 5: 2% (n = 1); Case 6: 47% (n = 25)

N/R

Chang et al. [22]

−

Simulated patient

Case 1: Pediatric diarrhoea (256);

Case 2: Adult acute upper respiratory infection (256)

256 community pharmacies

Pharmacists and attendants

Asked about:

Patient’s condition—case 1: 40.6% (n = 58); case 2: 80.4% (n = 160);

Patient’s symptoms—case 1: 4.2% (n = 6); case 2: 32.2% (n = 64);

The use of other medicines—case 1: 2.1% (n = 3); case 2: 6.5% (n = 13);

Drug allergy—case 1: 59.4% (n = 85); case 2: 41.2% (n = 82);

Counseling on:

How to take the medicine—case 1: 17.5% (n = 25); case 2: 9.6% (n = 19);

Others interventions:

Referral—case 1: 10.6% (n = 12)

Antimicrobial not dispensed—case 1: 12.4% (n = 14); case 2: 24.6%(14)

Not differentiate the drugs and services dispensed by a pharmacist

Chang et al. [23]

−

Simulated patient and practice documentation

Case 1: Paediatric diarrhoea (1554) Case 2: Adult Upper Respiratory Trate Infecction (1896)

2411 community pharmacies

Pharmacists and attendants

Asked about:

Patient’s condition—Case 1: 64.5% (n = 1554); Case 2: 78.6% (n = 1896);

The use of other medicines—Case 1: 9.7% (n = 234); Case 2: 6.6% (159);

Patient’s symptoms—Case 1: 18.2% (n = 439); Case 2: 13.4% (n = 323);

Drug allergy—Case 1: 16.1% (n = 188); Case 2: 29.2% (n = 494);

Others interventions:

Antimicrobial not dispensed—Case 1: 21.5% (251); Case 2: 23.8% (403)

Referral—Case 1: 6.5% (n = 156); Case 2: 3.8% (n = 92)

They did not sample in proportion to population;

No explore the effect of possible interventions

Chowdhury et al. [24]

−

Simulated patient

N/R

100 community pharmacies

Pharmacists

Counseling on:

Precautions—5% (n = 8);

Others interventions:

Referral—44% (n = 44);

Prescription of OTC—29% (n = 35);

The field staff might not have represented the subtleties of real-life

Contopoulos-Ioannidis et al. [25]

−

Simulated patient

Case 1: Acute uncomplicated rhinosinusitis with low fever (38.5 °C); Case 2: Acute uncomplicated rhinosinusitis with high fever (40ºC)

102 community pharmacies

98 community pharmacist

Pharmacists

Asked about:

Patient’s symptoms—Case 1: 30% (n = 15); Case 2: 14% (n = 7);

Doctor visit or prescription—Case 1: 20% (n = 10); Case 2: 28% (n = 14);

Drug allergy—Case 1. 22% (n = 11); Case 2. 12% (n = 6);

Patient’s identification—Case 1: 20% (n = 10); Case 2. 22% (n = 11);

Patient’s condition—Case 1: 4% (n = 2); Case 2: 4% (n = 2);

The use of other medicines—Case 1: 10% (n = 5); Case 2: 14% (n = 7);

Counseling on;

Dosage—Case 1: 88% (n = 37); Case 2: 85% (n = 29);

How long the medicine should be taken—1: 64% (n = 27); 2: 74% (25)

Others interventions:

Referral—Case 1. 35% (n = 17); Case 2: 57% (n = 28);

Prescription OTC—Case 1: 45% (n = 22); Case 2: 35% (n = 17)

Study design is limited by the fact that the trial was performed in a specific city in Greece

Erku and Aberra [26]

−

Simulated patient and in-depth interview

Case 1: Acute childhood diarrhea (50);

Case 2: Uncomplicated Upper Respiratory Infection (50);

20 community pharmacies

Pharmacists and attendants

Asked about:

Drug allergy—Case 1: 10.7% (n = 3); Case 2: 14.3% (n = 4);

Counseling on:

How to take the medicine—Case 1: 38% (n = 19); Case 2: 34% (n = 17);

Side effects—Case 1: 46.4% (n = 13); Case 2: 28.6% (n = 8);

Non-pharmacological—Case 1: 12% (n = 6); Case 2: 12% (n = 12)

Others interventions:

Referral—Case 1: 10% (n = 5); Case 2: 8% (n = 4);

Antimicrobial not dispensed—Case 1: 14.3% (4); Case 2: 10.7% (n = 3)

The practice behavior in clinical scenarios may not be generalized

Recruited smaller mount of pharmacies

Guinovart et al. [27]

−

Simulated patient

Case 1: Urinary Tract Infection or Sore throat or Acute bronchitis

220 community pharmacies

Pharmacists and attendants

Asked about:

Drug allergy 26% (n = 31);

The use of other medicines 1.7% (n = 2);

Counseling on:

How long the medicine should be taken 95.8% (n = 114);

Others interventions:

Referral 36.1% (43)

Antimicrobial not dispensed 9.9% (n = 10)

N/R

Hadi et al. [28]

−

Questionnaire

N/A

200 community pharmacist

Pharmacists

Asked about:

Drug allergy—Always 76.9% (n = 143), sometimes 15.6% (n = 29);

Patient’s condition—Always 70.4% (n = 133), sometimes 16.8% (n = 32);

Counseling on:

Side effects—Always 64.6% (n = 122), sometimes 24.9% (n = 47);

Medication adherence—Always 88.9% (n = 168), sometimes 5.8% (n = 11);

How to take the medicine—Always 81% (n = 153), sometimes 12.2% (n = 23);

Others interventions:

—Antimicrobial not dispensed—Always 61.4% (n = 116), sometimes 20.1% (n = 38);

Self-administered questionnaires such as the one used in this study are prone to social desirability bias

Halboup et al. [29]

−

Simulated patient

Case 1: Sore throat (199);

Case 2: Cough (184);

Case 3: Otitis (104); Case 4: Urinary tract infection (96); Case 5: Diarrhea (151)

1000 community pharmacies

Pharmacists

Asked about:

Patient’s symptoms—Case 2: 83% (n = 166);

Counseling on:

How to take the medicine—Case 1: 86.4% (n = 172); Case 2: 39.1% (n = 72); Case 3: 95.1% (n = 98); Case 4: 88.5% (n = 85); Case 5: 76% (n = 117);

How long the medicine should be take—Case 1: 72.9% (n = 145); Case 2: 6.5% (n = 12); Case 3: 95.1% (n = 97); Case 4: 61.2% (n = 90); Case 5: 50.6% (n = 78);

Precautions—Case 1: 15.6% (n = 31); Case 2: 10.8% (n = 20); Case 3: 2% (n = 3); Case 5: 11.9% (n = 65)

Qualitative data was not obtained to further identify the factors that influence or result in the findings of the study

Hallit et al. [31]

−

Face-to-face interview and Questionnaire

N/A

202 community pharmacist

Pharmacists

Counseling on:

Drug preparation instructions—81.2% (n = 164)

How to take the medicine—53% (n = 107)

Dosage—46.5% (n = 94)

How long the medicine should be taken—47.5% (n = 96)

Storage—64.4% (n = 130)

Precautions—81.2% (n = 164)

Medication adherence—32.2% (n = 65);

A selection bias due to the exclusion of parents acquiring antibiotics from places other than pharmacies

Horumpende et al. [32]

 ± 

Simulated patient

Case 1: Cough (16) or Fever (13) or Runny nose (22) or Diarrhoea (15) or Pain urination (16)

82 community pharmacies (26 part I; 56 part II)

Pharmacists and attendants

Counseling on:

Side effects—84.1% (n = 69)

Others interventions:

Prescription of OTC—25.6% (n = 5);

Modify the antimicrobial—6% (n = 5);

Antimicrobial not dispensed—no prescription 15.8% (n = 13);

The study was not able to collect data on retailers’ qualifications;

Hoxha et al. [33]

−

Questionnaire

Case 1: “I need to get a package of amoxicillin”

450 community pharmacies

Pharmacists

Asked about:

Patient’s identification 97.6% (n = 253);

Drug allergy 58.5% (n = 189);

Symptoms 53.2% (n = 172)

N/R

Kalungia et al. [34]

−

Questionnaire

N/A

73 community pharmacies

Pharmacists and attendants

Asked about:

Drug indication—94.5% (n = 69);

Counseling on:

Dosage—95.9% (n = 49);

Side effects—30.1% (n = 22);

Others interventions:

Modify the antimicrobial—97.3% (n = 71)

Simulated patients could have been used but for this was difficult within available resources

Koji et al. [35]

−

Simulated patient

Case 1: Common Cold or Diarrhea or Pneumonia;

or Meningitis;

262 community pharmacies

Pharmacists and attendants

Asked about:

Doctor visit or prescription—62.6% (n = 164);

Drug allergy—11.1% (n = 29);

Patient’s symptoms—40.8% (n = 107)

N/R

Llor and Cots [36]

−

Simulated patient

Case 1: Urinary tract infection—(69);

Case 2: Sore throat (69); Case 3: Acute bronchitis (59);

197 community pharmacies

Pharmacists and attendants

Asked about:

Patient’s symptoms—case 1: 69.1% (n = 38); case 2: 70.8% (n = 17); case 3: 60% (n = 6);

Drug allergy—case 1: 9.1% (n = 5); case 2: 33.3% (n = 8); case 3: 20% (n = 2);

Contraindications—case 1: 3.6% (n = 2);

Counseling on:

How to take the medicine—case 1: 94.5% (n = 52); case 2: 70.8% (n = 17); case 3: 50% (n = 5)

How long the antibiotic should be taken—case 1: 94.5% (n = 52); case 2: 37.5% (n = 9); case 3: 10% (n = 1);

Other interventions:

Contact pharmacist/doctor if necessary—case 1: 1.8% (n = 1); case 2: 12.5% (n = 3)

Antimicrobial not dispensed—case 1: 20.3% (n = 14); case 2: 65.2% (n = 45); case 3: 83.1% (n = 49)

Not distinguish whether the person who attended to the patient was a pharmacist

Mansour and Al-Kayali [37]

−

Questionnaire

N/A

250 community pharmacies

Pharmacists

Counseling on:

Medication adherence—Always 62.4% (n = 108), sometimes 19.6% (n = 34);

Side effects—Always 47.4% (n = 82), sometimes 14.4% (n = 25);

Precautions—Always 59% (n = 102), sometimes 18.5% (n = 32);

Health education—Always 51.4% (n = 89), sometimes 21.4% (n = 37);

There is the possibility that participants may over-report desirable behaviors

Nyazema et al. [38]

-

Simulated patient and Interviews

Case 1: Vaginal discharge and itching

Case 2: Urethral discharge

Case 3:

A child with acute diarrhoea

44 community pharmacies

Pharmacists

Asked about:

The use of other medicines—Case 1: 18% (n = 10); Case 2: 3% (n = 2);

Patient’s symptoms—Case 1: 91% (n = 52); Case 2: 33% (n = 21)

Counseling on:

Non-pharmacological—Case 3: 37% (n = 25)

Side effects—Case 3: 2% (n = 1)

Precautions—Case 1: 19% (n = 11)

Others interventions:

Prescription of OTC—Case 1: 58% (n = 33); Case 3: 87% (n = 58);

Repeated visits by simulated clients would have been preferable

Puspitasari et al. [39]

 ± 

Simulated patient

Patient requestes: Case 1: Ciprofloxacin 500 mg

Case 2: Tetracycline 250 mg

Case 3: Amoxicillin dry syrups 125 mg per 5 ml

105 community pharmacies

Pharmacists and attendants

Asked about:

Patient’s identification—Case 1: 2% (n = 2); Case 2: 2% (n = 2); Case 3: 31% (n = 23);

Patient’s symptoms—Case 1: 2% (n = 2); Case 2: 8% (n = 7); Case 3: 5%(4)

Counseling on:

How to take the medicine—Case 1: 35% (n = 31); Case 2: 68% (n = 60); Case 3: 70% (n = 52);

How long the medicine should be taken—Case 1: 21% (n = 18); Case 2: 6% (n = 5); Case 3: 43% (32);

Side effects—Case 1: 1% (n = 1);

Precautions—Case 1: 1% (n = 1);

Medication adherence—Case 1: 2% (n = 2); Case 3: 1% (n = 1);

Storage—Case 3: 14% (n = 10)

Data on pharmacy staff’s qualifications were based on self-report of respondents

Rauber et al. [40]

−

Questionnaire

N/A

46 community pharmacist

Pharmacists

Asked about:

Drug allergy—15.1%

Patient’s condition—15.1%

Patient’s identification—1%

Counseling about:

How long the medicine should be taken—1.8%

Drug interactions—12.6%;

Side effects—7.2%;

Posology—46.7%

Others interventions:

Antimicrobial not dispensed—1.8%

Relied on data reported by the respondents

Shet et al. [42]

−

Simulated patient

Case 1: Upper respiratory tract infection in adult (115);

Case 2: Acute gastro-enteritis in child (146);

261 community pharmacies

Pharmacists

Counseling on:

Dosage—Case 1: 96.3% (n = 79); Case 2: 23.9% (n = 22);

How long the medicine should be taken—Case 1: 91.5% (n = 75); Case 2: 15.2 (n = 14);

Non-pharmacological—Case 1: 18.3% (n = 21); Case 2: 12.3% (n = 18);

Others interventions:

Referral—Case 1: 21.7% (n = 25); Case 2: 33.6% (n = 49);

Antimicrobial not dispensed—Case 1: 9.1% (n = 3); Case 2: 24.1% (13);

Did not distinguish whether the dispensing workforce in pharmacies

Shi et al. [43]

−

Simulated patient

Case 1: Adult acute cough associated with a common cold (n = 100); Case 2: A pediatric acute cough associated with a common cold (n = 81)

147 community pharmacies

Pharmacists and attendants

Asked about:

Patient’s symptoms—Case 1: 82.2% (n = 60); Case 2: 82.4% (n = 61);

The use of other medicines—Case 1: 82.2% (n = 121); Case 2: 82.4% (61);

Doctor visit or prescription—Case 1: 19.2% (n = 14); Case 2: 10.8% (8);

Drug allergy—Case 1: 42.5% (n = 31); Case 2: 35.1% (n = 26);

Counseling on:

Non-pharmacological—Case 1: 1.4% (n = 1); 6.8% (n = 5);

Side effects—Case 1: 2.7% (n = 2); Case 2: 4% (n = 3);

Others interventions:

Prescription of OTC—Case 1: 21.9% (n = 16); Case 2: 40.5% (30);

Referral—Case 1: 5.5% (n = 4)

Did not distinguish whether the respondent was a licensed pharmacist or pharmacy assistant

Yaacoub et al. [44]

 ± 

Simulated patient

Case 1: Bacterial rhinosinusitis

250 community pharmacies

Pharmacists and attendants

Asked about:

Patient’s identification—19.6% (n = 49);

Drug allergy—3.2% (n = 8);

Patient’s symptoms—43.2% (n = 108)

Counseling on:

Precautions—2% (n = 5);

Drug indication—10.4% (n = 26);

Others interventions:

Referral—10.4% (n = 26)

The sociodemographic characteristics of the participants were not available

Zawahir et al. [45]

−

Simulated patient

Patient requests: Case 1: Erythromycin; Case 2: Amoxicillin Case 3: Metronidazole 500 mg; Case 4: Ciprofloxacin

242 community pharmacies

Pharmacists and attendants

Asked about:

Patient’s identification—Case 1: 18.3% (n = 11); Case 2: 27.4 (n = 17); Case 3: 17.5% (n = 10); Case 4: 33.3% (21);

Patient’s symptoms—Case 1: 1.7% (n = 1); Case 2: 1.6% (n = 1); Case 3: 1.8% (n = 1);

The use of other medicines—Case 2: 6.5% (n = 4); Case 3: 1.8% (n = 1);

Patient’s condition—Case 1: 6.7% (n = 4); Case 2: 14.5% (n = 9); Case 3: 15.8% (9); Case 4: 11.1% (7);

Others interventions:

Referral—Case 1: 6.7% (n = 4); Case 2: 11.3% (n = 7); Case 3: 1.8% (n = 1); Case 4: 6.3% (4);

Interpersonal variations between SCs impacted how they behaved in the pharmacies, and hence how pharmacy staff behaved

Zawahir et al. [46]

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Simulated patient

Case 1: Sore throat (60); Case 2: Common cold (60); Case 3: Diarrhea (60); Case 4: UTI (62)

242 community pharmacies

Pharmacists and attendants

Asked about:

Patient’s symptoms—Case 1: 12% (n = 7); Case 2: 18% (n = 11); Case 3: 10% (n = 6); Case 4: 2% (n = 2);

The use of other medicines—Case 1: 1.7% (n = 4); Case 2: 3% (n = 2); Case 3: 2% (n = 1); Case 4: 2% (n = 1);

Drug allergy—Case 1: 19% (n = 5); Case 3: 7% (n = 2); Case 4: 9% (n = 3);

Counseling on:

How to take the medicine—Case 1: 62% (n = 16); Case 2: 33% (n = 3); Case 3: 53% (n = 16); Case 4: 71% (n = 24);

How long the medicine should be taken—Case 1: 15% (n = 4); Case 3: 23% (n = 7); Case 4: 32% (n = 11);

Others interventions:

Referral—Case 1: 10% (n = 6); Case 2: 23% (n = 14); Case 3: 15% (n = 9); Case 4: 24% (n = 15)

A self- selection of the study participants may have impacted the study findings