Combatting Substandard and Falsified Medicines: Public Awareness and Identification of Counterfeit Medications
Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the identification rate of substandard and falsified medications and its association with knowledge among public.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in different geographic areas among a convenient sample of people ag...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.754279/full |
| _version_ | 1828922890583539712 |
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| author | Faris El-Dahiyat Khairi M. S. Fahelelbom Ammar Abdulrahman Jairoun Sabaa Saleh Al-Hemyari |
| author_facet | Faris El-Dahiyat Khairi M. S. Fahelelbom Ammar Abdulrahman Jairoun Sabaa Saleh Al-Hemyari |
| author_sort | Faris El-Dahiyat |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the identification rate of substandard and falsified medications and its association with knowledge among public.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in different geographic areas among a convenient sample of people aged 18 or older. A validated web-based electronic questionnaire was used for data collection tool. The questionnaire contained three sections assessing the following: (1) Sociodemographic data; (2) Knowledge regarding counterfeit medicines; and (3) Ability to identify counterfeit medicines, according to 12 questions rated on a five-point Likert scale. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between sociodemographic factors and counterfeit medication identification rate.Results: A total of 320 people participated in the study. Only 98 participants (30.6%, 95% CI 25.6–35.7%) identified the counterfeit medications. Ability to correctly identify counterfeit medications was significantly higher in participants who were older (p = 0.016), single (p = 0.001), Asian (p = 0.001), or American (p = 0.019), as well as those who indicated that they would check the certification of the medications (p = 0.015) and report counterfeit medications to the authorities (p < 0.0001).Conclusions: These results underscore the need for greater public awareness of the hazards associated with counterfeit medicines. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T22:29:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-400a2829cf384606a1300041096baacc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T22:29:31Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-400a2829cf384606a1300041096baacc2022-12-21T23:29:07ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652021-10-01910.3389/fpubh.2021.754279754279Combatting Substandard and Falsified Medicines: Public Awareness and Identification of Counterfeit MedicationsFaris El-Dahiyat0Khairi M. S. Fahelelbom1Ammar Abdulrahman Jairoun2Sabaa Saleh Al-Hemyari3College of Pharmacy, Al-Ain University, Al Ain, United Arab EmiratesCollege of Pharmacy, Al-Ain University, Al Ain, United Arab EmiratesHealth and Safety Department, Dubai Municipality, Dubai, United Arab EmiratesPharmacy Department, Emirates Health Services Establishment, Dubai, United Arab EmiratesObjectives: The objective of this study was to determine the identification rate of substandard and falsified medications and its association with knowledge among public.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in different geographic areas among a convenient sample of people aged 18 or older. A validated web-based electronic questionnaire was used for data collection tool. The questionnaire contained three sections assessing the following: (1) Sociodemographic data; (2) Knowledge regarding counterfeit medicines; and (3) Ability to identify counterfeit medicines, according to 12 questions rated on a five-point Likert scale. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between sociodemographic factors and counterfeit medication identification rate.Results: A total of 320 people participated in the study. Only 98 participants (30.6%, 95% CI 25.6–35.7%) identified the counterfeit medications. Ability to correctly identify counterfeit medications was significantly higher in participants who were older (p = 0.016), single (p = 0.001), Asian (p = 0.001), or American (p = 0.019), as well as those who indicated that they would check the certification of the medications (p = 0.015) and report counterfeit medications to the authorities (p < 0.0001).Conclusions: These results underscore the need for greater public awareness of the hazards associated with counterfeit medicines.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.754279/fullfalsified mediationcounterfeit medicationsknowledge–attitude–behavioridentificationpublic awareness |
| spellingShingle | Faris El-Dahiyat Khairi M. S. Fahelelbom Ammar Abdulrahman Jairoun Sabaa Saleh Al-Hemyari Combatting Substandard and Falsified Medicines: Public Awareness and Identification of Counterfeit Medications Frontiers in Public Health falsified mediation counterfeit medications knowledge–attitude–behavior identification public awareness |
| title | Combatting Substandard and Falsified Medicines: Public Awareness and Identification of Counterfeit Medications |
| title_full | Combatting Substandard and Falsified Medicines: Public Awareness and Identification of Counterfeit Medications |
| title_fullStr | Combatting Substandard and Falsified Medicines: Public Awareness and Identification of Counterfeit Medications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Combatting Substandard and Falsified Medicines: Public Awareness and Identification of Counterfeit Medications |
| title_short | Combatting Substandard and Falsified Medicines: Public Awareness and Identification of Counterfeit Medications |
| title_sort | combatting substandard and falsified medicines public awareness and identification of counterfeit medications |
| topic | falsified mediation counterfeit medications knowledge–attitude–behavior identification public awareness |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.754279/full |
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