Safety of dispensing prescribed iron formulation in childresistant containers among pharmacies in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional survey
Iron overdose remains a significant public health threat to young children. Unit dose packaging of potent iron supplements is expected to reduce the frequency of severe pediatric iron overdose incidents. Interna - tional regulations require child-resistant iron packages. We aim to know if iron is di...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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PAGEPress Publications
2013-04-01
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| Series: | Healthcare in Low-resource Settings |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.pagepressjournals.org/index.php/hls/article/view/726 |
| _version_ | 1827157612806799360 |
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| author | Nahar Alruwaili Mohammed Alomar Ismaeel Sabei Abdelmoneim Eldali |
| author_facet | Nahar Alruwaili Mohammed Alomar Ismaeel Sabei Abdelmoneim Eldali |
| author_sort | Nahar Alruwaili |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Iron overdose remains a significant public health threat to young children. Unit dose packaging of potent iron supplements is expected to reduce the frequency of severe pediatric iron overdose incidents. Interna - tional regulations require child-resistant iron packages. We aim to know if iron is dispensed in child-resistant containers (CRCs) and to emphasize the importance of using them. A prospective cross-sectional observational study assessing the proper dispensing of ferrous sulfate tablets in CRCs from major city pharmacies. Forty government and private pharmacies were visited. Ferrous sulfates with a total of 600 to 6500 mg elemental iron per package were found. The package of 6000 mg was the most commonly found. Most of the packages with high concentrations are dispensed from the government hospitals and primary healthcare centers pharmacies. None of the pharmacies dispensed iron in CRCs. To conclude, pharmacies dispensed iron in non-CRCs. Public health efforts on increasing awareness and improving packaging are highly needed. Authority regulations to use child-resistant iron packaging are required. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T13:57:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e35925655ca24a8f8f2c7bedda2b6d68 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2281-7824 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-03-20T23:28:07Z |
| publishDate | 2013-04-01 |
| publisher | PAGEPress Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Healthcare in Low-resource Settings |
| spelling | doaj.art-e35925655ca24a8f8f2c7bedda2b6d682024-08-03T14:47:17ZengPAGEPress PublicationsHealthcare in Low-resource Settings2281-78242013-04-0111e6e610.4081/hls.2013.e61087Safety of dispensing prescribed iron formulation in childresistant containers among pharmacies in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional surveyNahar Alruwaili0Mohammed Alomar1Ismaeel Sabei2Abdelmoneim Eldali3Department of Emergency Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Alfaisal University, RiyadhDepartment of Emergency Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Alfaisal University, RiyadhDepartment of Emergency Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Alfaisal University, RiyadhDepartment of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Research Centre, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, RiyadhIron overdose remains a significant public health threat to young children. Unit dose packaging of potent iron supplements is expected to reduce the frequency of severe pediatric iron overdose incidents. Interna - tional regulations require child-resistant iron packages. We aim to know if iron is dispensed in child-resistant containers (CRCs) and to emphasize the importance of using them. A prospective cross-sectional observational study assessing the proper dispensing of ferrous sulfate tablets in CRCs from major city pharmacies. Forty government and private pharmacies were visited. Ferrous sulfates with a total of 600 to 6500 mg elemental iron per package were found. The package of 6000 mg was the most commonly found. Most of the packages with high concentrations are dispensed from the government hospitals and primary healthcare centers pharmacies. None of the pharmacies dispensed iron in CRCs. To conclude, pharmacies dispensed iron in non-CRCs. Public health efforts on increasing awareness and improving packaging are highly needed. Authority regulations to use child-resistant iron packaging are required.http://www.pagepressjournals.org/index.php/hls/article/view/726child-resistant containers, iron poisoning, pediatric poisoning, child-resistant closures |
| spellingShingle | Nahar Alruwaili Mohammed Alomar Ismaeel Sabei Abdelmoneim Eldali Safety of dispensing prescribed iron formulation in childresistant containers among pharmacies in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional survey Healthcare in Low-resource Settings child-resistant containers, iron poisoning, pediatric poisoning, child-resistant closures |
| title | Safety of dispensing prescribed iron formulation in childresistant containers among pharmacies in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional survey |
| title_full | Safety of dispensing prescribed iron formulation in childresistant containers among pharmacies in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional survey |
| title_fullStr | Safety of dispensing prescribed iron formulation in childresistant containers among pharmacies in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Safety of dispensing prescribed iron formulation in childresistant containers among pharmacies in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional survey |
| title_short | Safety of dispensing prescribed iron formulation in childresistant containers among pharmacies in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional survey |
| title_sort | safety of dispensing prescribed iron formulation in childresistant containers among pharmacies in saudi arabia a cross sectional survey |
| topic | child-resistant containers, iron poisoning, pediatric poisoning, child-resistant closures |
| url | http://www.pagepressjournals.org/index.php/hls/article/view/726 |
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