Dispensing Practices for Weight Management Products in Eastern Saudi Arabia: A Survey of Community Pharmacists

Mahmoud E. Elrggal, Sarah Ibrahim Alamer, Saad A. Alkahtani, Mohammed Ahmed Alshrahili, Adnan Alharbi, Bayan Ali Alghamdi and Mohammad Fathullah Zaitoun
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Mahmoud E. Elrggal: Clinical Pharmacy Department, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia
Sarah Ibrahim Alamer: Pharmacy Practice Department, College of Clinical Pharmacy, King Faisal University, Al Hofuf 31982, Saudi Arabia
Saad A. Alkahtani: Clinical Pharmacy Department, College of Pharmacy, Najran University, Najran 55461, Saudi Arabia
Mohammed Ahmed Alshrahili: Pharmacy Department, Armed Forces Hospital Jazan, Jazan 84224, Saudi Arabia
Adnan Alharbi: Clinical Pharmacy Department, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia
Bayan Ali Alghamdi: Pharmaceutical Care Administration, Armed Forces Hospitals Southern Region, Khamis Mushait 61961, Saudi Arabia
Mohammad Fathullah Zaitoun: Pharmaceutical Care Administration, Armed Forces Hospitals Southern Region, Khamis Mushait 61961, Saudi Arabia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 24, 1-8

Abstract: Due to changing lifestyles and socioeconomic status, obesity prevalence has been rising in Saudi Arabia, and community pharmacists often counsel patients about its management. The study aimed to evaluate practices of community pharmacists involved in dispensing products for weight control in four cities located in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving community pharmacists in Dammam, Dhahran, Khobar, and Al-Ahsa, using a Likert format questionnaire. Only those who consented to participate were handed the questionnaire. A total of 100 complete responses were analyzed. The median value for packs sold per month for tea containing products Al-Diafa Slimming Tea, Jamue Tea, and Green Tea was ≥6 while the same for orlistat and apple cider vinegar were ≤4. Moreover, >50% of pharmacists mentioned that orlistat and apple cider vinegar were effective while ≥35% mentioned that metformin and Jamue tea were effective. Furthermore, ≥25% mentioned that green tea and Al-Diafa slimming tea were effective. Excluding orlistat, >50% of pharmacists did not know about adverse effects for other products. The rate of dispensing of several weight loss products was significant for participants’ background characteristics, such as time duration of consultation, gender, and age of patients, and pharmacist work experience ( p < 0.05). The tea products and orlistat were the most frequently sold products, and community pharmacists appeared most knowledgeable about the effectiveness and adverse effect of orlistat. The pharmacists seemed to be aware about the effectiveness of other weight loss products; however, their knowledge about their potential adverse effects was unsatisfactory.

Keywords: obesity; weight reduction; weight loss; anti-obesity agents; supplements; dietary; over-the-counter drugs; community pharmacy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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