Comparison of treatment for upper respitatory tract infections recommended in community pharmacies and hospitals

Abstract

A total of 1,052 URTI patients was studied, 536 in two hospitals and 516 in ten pharmacies. Patients’ most common symptoms were cough (73%), fever (65%), sore throat (63%), and runny nose (58%). Most URTI patients attending the hospitals were dispensed antibiotics (86%) and analgesic (82%). In the pharmacies 67% of patients received antibiotics. Amoxicillin was dispensed to 77.6% and 50.4% of patients from hospitals and pharmacies, respectively. In pharmacies 64% of medicines supplied were combinations that comprised analgesics, antihistamines, decongestants, and cough suppressants. Generally only 2-3 days medicine was supplied through pharmacies but 7 days through hospitals. Antibiotics were supplied for 5.6 days at hospitals and 2.9 days by pharmacies (p<0.001). Medicine costs in the hospitals were double those of the pharmacies (average 106 baht and 47 baht, respectively) (p< 0.001). A total of 338 patients (36.9%) reported their outcomes by postcard. Clinical outcomes of treatments and the health status after treatment in the hospitals and pharmacies were not different. There were different humanistic outcomes with patients indicating greater satisfaction with the pharmacies in terms of convenience, time spent, and advice given.