Perception of Over the Counter Drug Advertising among Pharmacists in Abu Dhabi, UAE

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate pharmacists’ perception and attitude towards OTC drug advertising in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Study design: A cross-sectional study. Methods: A pre-piloted 35-item questionnaire was distributed to 130 pharmacists, who were agreed to take part in the study from Abu Dhabi Health Authority, UAE. Results: The majority of respondents watched OTC advertisements on the internet (43.1%) and television (35.4%), at least 1-5 times per week. Half of the pharmacists (50.0%) reported that patients interacted with them more than 10 times per week about OTC drugs. Most of the participants (88.5%) thought that advertising makes them aware of new products in the market, and more than half of them (60.0%) admitted that it influences their decisions when patients seek advice. Conclusion: Pharmacists in Abu Dhabi, UAE seem to be less conservative about the subject of drug advertising regarding its impact on their practice. Nonetheless, they are fully aware that such advertisements could lead to undesirable consequences, such as misuse or abuse of OTC products, increased chances of potential adverse events and increased costs.