Abstract

EFFECTS OF SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS ON COMMUNITY PHARMACIST’S DECISION MAKING

Muhammed Anwar T. T.* and Rajalakshmi G. R.

Abstract

Introduction: Community pharmacists are facing so many ethical dilemmas in their day to day life. These issues are questioning their aptitude and attitude towards their profession. Community pharmacies are the link between the physician and pharmaceutical companies. So they have to face many ethical issues to fulfil both of their desires. Materials and methods: Data are collected from various reviews and research articles regarding ethical dilemmas of community pharmacists and the effect of social and demographic factors on ethical decision making. Discussion: Factors regarding ethical decision making divided into two categories, personal factors and establishment factors. Personal factors include age, gender, work experience, educational qualification. Establishment factors include location of the pharmacy and the number of pharmacists in the community pharmacy. Conclusion: Community pharmacists are involved in various ethical dilemma situations in their day to day life. The major ethical problems are due to fulfil the physician’s request and employer’s intrusion into the activities of the pharmacist. They have to face these problems at least once in a day in their professional career.

Keywords: Community pharmacist; ethics; personal factors; establishment factors.