A qualitative exploration of purchasing, stockpiling, and use of drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic in an urban city of Bangladesh
Objectives: This research was conducted to explore the patterns and behavior of panic purchasing, stockpiling, and use of drugs during COVID-19 in the Sylhet city, Bangladesh. Study design: The study adopted qualitative exploratory research design. Methods: 25 in-depth interviews with drug sellers a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-06-01
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| Series: | Public Health in Practice |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666535224000144 |
| _version_ | 1797303367913963520 |
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| author | Md. Shahgahan Miah Md Razib Mamun KM Saif-Ur-Rahman Al Amin Rabby A.F.M. Zakaria |
| author_facet | Md. Shahgahan Miah Md Razib Mamun KM Saif-Ur-Rahman Al Amin Rabby A.F.M. Zakaria |
| author_sort | Md. Shahgahan Miah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives: This research was conducted to explore the patterns and behavior of panic purchasing, stockpiling, and use of drugs during COVID-19 in the Sylhet city, Bangladesh. Study design: The study adopted qualitative exploratory research design. Methods: 25 in-depth interviews with drug sellers and clients and 7 key informant interviews were conducted with pharmacists and medical representatives of pharmaceutical companies in Sylhet city in Bangladesh from October 2020 to March 2021. Thematic analysis was used to evaluate the primary data. Results: The findings revealed that individuals sought out, purchased, and stockpiled prescription-only drugs for self-medication purposes during the COVID-19 pandemic. News and rumor spread by social media, television, and everyday interactions concerning the severity of infections and the number of deaths caused an increase in self-medication as a preventive measure. The reason for this panic buying of drugs was identified as a fear of drug shortages, price hikes, the rise of infection, and the availability of medicines and home delivery services during the pandemic. Conclusion: The purchasing, stockpiling and use of drugs by pharmacies varied based on the person dispensing the drugs, the customer, and the COVID-19 pandemic situation. Furthermore, the role of social media in spreading rumor and (dis) misinformation about drug use, a greater tendency to self-medicate, and poor regulation, influenced the individual’s use of drugs. Therefore, the drug regulatory authorities and policymakers need to consider the real level of local drug use in order to encourage more rational use of drugs which will help to ensure that there is reliable access to safe, effective, and high-quality medicines and vaccines for all. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T23:51:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-19ab03b3e229475491327eeba28cfabf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-5352 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T23:51:44Z |
| publishDate | 2024-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Public Health in Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-19ab03b3e229475491327eeba28cfabf2024-02-19T04:14:03ZengElsevierPublic Health in Practice2666-53522024-06-017100477A qualitative exploration of purchasing, stockpiling, and use of drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic in an urban city of BangladeshMd. Shahgahan Miah0Md Razib Mamun1KM Saif-Ur-Rahman2Al Amin Rabby3A.F.M. Zakaria4Department of Anthropology, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh; Corresponding author. Room 1011, Academic Building D, Faculty of Social Sciences, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, 3114, Bangladesh.Department of Anthropology, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, BangladeshHealth Systems and Population Studies Division, icddr,b, Dhaka, BangladeshDepartment of Sociology, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, BangladeshDepartment of Anthropology, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, BangladeshObjectives: This research was conducted to explore the patterns and behavior of panic purchasing, stockpiling, and use of drugs during COVID-19 in the Sylhet city, Bangladesh. Study design: The study adopted qualitative exploratory research design. Methods: 25 in-depth interviews with drug sellers and clients and 7 key informant interviews were conducted with pharmacists and medical representatives of pharmaceutical companies in Sylhet city in Bangladesh from October 2020 to March 2021. Thematic analysis was used to evaluate the primary data. Results: The findings revealed that individuals sought out, purchased, and stockpiled prescription-only drugs for self-medication purposes during the COVID-19 pandemic. News and rumor spread by social media, television, and everyday interactions concerning the severity of infections and the number of deaths caused an increase in self-medication as a preventive measure. The reason for this panic buying of drugs was identified as a fear of drug shortages, price hikes, the rise of infection, and the availability of medicines and home delivery services during the pandemic. Conclusion: The purchasing, stockpiling and use of drugs by pharmacies varied based on the person dispensing the drugs, the customer, and the COVID-19 pandemic situation. Furthermore, the role of social media in spreading rumor and (dis) misinformation about drug use, a greater tendency to self-medicate, and poor regulation, influenced the individual’s use of drugs. Therefore, the drug regulatory authorities and policymakers need to consider the real level of local drug use in order to encourage more rational use of drugs which will help to ensure that there is reliable access to safe, effective, and high-quality medicines and vaccines for all.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666535224000144Drug behaviorCOVID-19Self-prescribedRational useBangladesh |
| spellingShingle | Md. Shahgahan Miah Md Razib Mamun KM Saif-Ur-Rahman Al Amin Rabby A.F.M. Zakaria A qualitative exploration of purchasing, stockpiling, and use of drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic in an urban city of Bangladesh Public Health in Practice Drug behavior COVID-19 Self-prescribed Rational use Bangladesh |
| title | A qualitative exploration of purchasing, stockpiling, and use of drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic in an urban city of Bangladesh |
| title_full | A qualitative exploration of purchasing, stockpiling, and use of drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic in an urban city of Bangladesh |
| title_fullStr | A qualitative exploration of purchasing, stockpiling, and use of drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic in an urban city of Bangladesh |
| title_full_unstemmed | A qualitative exploration of purchasing, stockpiling, and use of drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic in an urban city of Bangladesh |
| title_short | A qualitative exploration of purchasing, stockpiling, and use of drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic in an urban city of Bangladesh |
| title_sort | qualitative exploration of purchasing stockpiling and use of drugs during the covid 19 pandemic in an urban city of bangladesh |
| topic | Drug behavior COVID-19 Self-prescribed Rational use Bangladesh |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666535224000144 |
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