Tanzania (2013): Assessing the Knowledge and Practice of Private Sector Pharmacists of Misoprostol through Mystery Clients

In Tanzania, there are over 745 registered Class I retail pharmacies that are legally permitted to sell misoprostol, though the private pharmaceutical sector in Tanzania encompasses an additional 9,000 low-level drug shops that include duka la dawas and Accredited Drug Distribution Outlets (ADDOs). Retail pharmacies are only permitted to sell misoprostol with a prescription. Accurate knowledge and correct dispensing practices by pharmacy employees is important for the wellbeing of pharmacy clients and the current status of dispensing practices for misoprostol is unknown. PSI Tanzania seeks to ensure accurate knowledge and correct dispensing practices for misoprostol among pharmacy employees through a program of orientation and medical detailing of all PSI products. Through 2015, PSI will educate 350 pharmacy personnel on the correct use of misoprostol. By comparing the baseline and endline, PSI will assess the effectiveness of the medical detailing program aimed at improving the dispensing practices of pharmacy employees and use the conclusions to make program improvements. The study is a quantitative baseline survey to assess pharmacy employees awareness and practice pertaining to the provision of misoprostol in Tanzania. The survey uses a representative sample of pharmacies to make a national estimate of pharmacist practices. Using the indicator that measures the percentage of pharmacy personnel w ho give the correct dispensing instructions for misoprostol increases from X to Y by Dec. 2015. PSI Tanzania will use the results from the study to adjust training and medical detailing visits, and to improve curricula. Mystery Client Surveys have been shown to be effective method of measuring sellers' behavior and knowledge because survey responses do not always reflect actual practices. The premise of this methodology is that the interviewee (i.e. pharmacy employees) will give a response more similar to actual practice if asked by a supposed client instead of an interviewer. The methodology uses fieldworkers who are trained to pose as clients who fit a specific profile at a selected sample of pharmacies in different geographic settings. The mystery client's objective is to assess pharmacy employees' dispensing behavior of misoprostol and related quality parameters in regards to different scenarios.