The perceptions and prescribing patterns of complementary medicines for infantile colic by pharmacists in Johannesburg, South Africa
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background. Complementary medicines (CMs) for infantile colic are widely available on the South African market, in various pharmacies and retail outlets, without the need for a prescription. Pharmacists therefore have an important role to play in educating patients about safe and appropriate use of CM products.
Objectives. To investigate the perceptions and prescribing patterns of CMs for infantile colic by pharmacists and pharmacist assistants employed in the greater Johannesburg area.
Methods. We used a quantitative approach with a descriptive survey design. A total of 100 pharmacists and pharmacist assistants registered with the South African Pharmacy Council completed a pen-and-paper questionnaire.
Results. Many participants reported recommending both conventional and CMs for infantile colic and, overall, positive perceptions of CM were reported. Most participants agreed that they had a responsibility to counsel patients on the use of CM but felt that they needed to expand their own knowledge base.
Conclusions. There appears to be a positive shift towards CM for the treatment of infantile colic; however, improved training is needed to ensure pharmacists and pharmacist assistants are better informed regarding CM products in order to give appropriate advice to patients.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
The SAJCH is published under an Attribution-Non Commercial International Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY-NC 4.0) License. Under this license, authors agree to make articles available to users, without permission or fees, for any lawful, non-commercial purpose. Users may read, copy, or re-use published content as long as the author and original place of publication are properly cited.
Exceptions to this license model is allowed for UKRI and research funded by organisations requiring that research be published open-access without embargo, under a CC-BY licence. As per the journals archiving policy, authors are permitted to self-archive the author-accepted manuscript (AAM) in a repository.
How to Cite
References
Banks JB, Rouster AS, Chee J. Colic. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island
(FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan–. PMID: 30085504.
Daelemans S, Peeters L, Hauser B, Vandenplas Y. Recent advances in understanding
and managing infantile colic. F1000Res 2018 7(F1000 Faculty Rev):1426. https://
doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.14940.1
Ellwood J, Draper-Rodi J, Carnes D. Comparison of common interventions for
the treatment of infantile colic: A systematic review of reviews and guidelines.
BMJ Open 2020;10(2):e035405. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-035405
South African Health Products Association. Complementary Medicines.
Pretoria: SAHPRA, 2023. https://www.sahpra.org.za/complementary-medicines
(accessed 20 February 2023).
Oflu A, Bukulmez A, Gorel O, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine
experiences of mothers in the treatment of infantile colic. Sud J Paediatr
;20(1):49-57. https://doi.org/10.24911/SJP.106-1568897690
Perry R, Leach V, Penfold C, et al. An overview of systematic reviews
of complementary and alternative therapies for infantile colic. Syst Rev
;8:271. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-019-1191-5
Di Gaspero NC, Razlog R, Patel R, Pellow J. Perceived effectiveness of
complementary medicine by mothers of infants with colic in Gauteng. Health
SA Gesond 2019;24:1175. https://doi.org/10.4102/hsag.v24i0.1175
Hijazi MA, Shatila H, El-Lakany A, et al. Beliefs, practices and knowledge of
community pharmacists regarding complementary and alternative medicine:
national cross-sectional study in Lebanon. BMJ Open 2019;9:e025074. https://doi.
org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-025074
Moodley R, Suleman F. To evaluate the impact of opening up ownership of
pharmacies in South Africa. J Pharm Policy Pract 2020;13:28. https://doi/10.1186/
s40545-020-00232-4
National Government of South Africa. Municipalities of South Africa - Gauteng
Municipalities. 2023. https://municipalities.co.za/provinces/view/3/gauteng
(accessed 20 February 2023).
Story AA, Tait AR. Survey research. Anesthesiology 2019;130(2):192-202. https://
doi.org/10.1097/ALN.0000000000002436
Mann T. A survey to establish perceptions of homoeopathy among pharmacists and
pharmacists’ assistants in greater Johannesburg. Unpublished Master’s Dissertation.
Johannesburg: University of Johannesburg, 2008. https://ujcontent.uj.ac.za/vital/
access/manager/Repository/uj:6714?site_name=GlobalView&view=null&f0=sm_
subject%3A%22Pharmacy%22&sort=null (accessed 15 February 2023).
Ong TG, Gordon M, Banks SS, Thomas MR, Akobeng AK. Probiotics to prevent
infantile colic. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2019;3(3):CD012473. https://doi/
1002/14651858.CD012473.pub2
Anisimova E, Gorokhova I, Karimullina G, Yarullina D. Alarming antibiotic
resistance of Lactobacilli isolated from probiotic preparations and dietary
supplements. Antibiotics 2022;11(11):1557. https://doi.org/10.3390/
antibiotics11111557
Pang Y, Ermann Lundberg L, Mata Forsberg M, et al. Extracellular membrane
vesicles from Limosilactobacillus reuteri strengthen the intestinal epithelial integrity,
modulate cytokine responses and antagonise activation of TRPV1. Front Microbiol
;13:1032202. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.1032202
Simonson J, Haglund K, Weber E, Fial A, Hanson L. Probiotics for the management
of infantile colic: A systematic review. MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs 2021;46(2):88-
https://doi.org/10.1097/NMC.0000000000000691
Savino F, Cresi F, Castagno E, Silvestro L, Oggero R. A randomised double-blind
placebo-controlled trial of a standardised extract of Matricariae recutita, Foeniculum
vulgare and Melissa officinalis (ColiMil) in the treatment of breast-fed colicky
infants. Phytother Res 2005;19(4):335-340. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.1668
Alexandrovich I, Rakovitskaya O, Kolmo E, Sidorova T, Shushunov S. The effect
of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seed oil emulsion in infantile colic: A randomised,
placebo-controlled study. Altern Ther Health Med 2003;9(4):58-61.
Gavish L, Korch G, Cohen S, Maor Y. A real-world evaluation of an herbal
treatment for infantile colic reported by 1218 parents in Israel. J Pediatric Nurs
;69:E39-E44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2022.12.002
Evans C, Lorentz WP. Efficacy and safety of a colic relief remedy in infantile colic.
Glob Pediatr Health 2022;9:1-7. https://doi.org/10.1177/2333794X221100810
Raak C, Krueger P, Klement, et al. Effectiveness of a homeopathic complex medicine
in infantile colic: A randomised multicenter study. Complementary Therapies Med
;45:136-141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2019.05.026
Biagioli E, Tarasco V, Lingua C, Moja L, Savino F. Pain-relieving agents for
infantile colic. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2016;9(9):CD009999. https://doi.
org/10.1002/14651858.CD009999.pub2
Salman Popattia A, La Caze A. An ethical framework for the responsibilities of
pharmacists when selling complementary medicines. Res Social Adm Pharm
;17(5):850-857. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.07.002
Koh H, Ng H, Teo H. Pharmacists’ patterns of use, knowledge, and attitudes toward
complementary and alternative medicine. J Altern Comp Med 2015;9(1):57-62.
https://doi.org/10.1089/107555303321222946
Thandar Y, Botha J, Mosam A. Community pharmacists’ knowledge, attitude and
practices towards the use of complementary and alternative medicines in Durban,
South Africa. Health SA Gesond 2019;24(0):a1029. https://doi.org/10.4102/hsag.
v24i0.1029
Wang C, Preisser J, Chung Y, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine
use among children with mental health issues: Results from the National Health
Interview Survey. BMC Complement Altern Med 2018;18(1):241. https://doi.
org/10.1186/s12906-018-2307-5
Ung COL, Harnett J, Hu H. Community pharmacist’s responsibilities with regards
to traditional medicine/complementary medicine products: A systematic literature
review. Res Social Adm Pharm 2017;13(4):686-716. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
sapharm.2016.08.001
Thin SM, Thet D, Li JY, et al. A systematic review of community pharmacist
practices in complementary medicine. Pharm Pract 2022;20(3):1-25. https://doi.
org/10.18549/pharmpract.2022.3.2697
Anheyer D, Frawley J, Koch AK, et al. Herbal medicines for gastrointestinal disorders
in children and adolescents: A systematic review. Pediatrics 2017;139(6):e20170062.
https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2017-0062
Lee EL, Richards N, Harrison J, Barnes J. Prevalence of use of traditional,
complementary and alternative medicine by the general population: A systematic
review of national studies published from 2010 to 2019. Drug Saf 2022;45(7):713-
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40264-022-01189-w
Tangkiatkumjai M, Boardman H, Walker DM. Potential factors that influence
usage of complementary and alternative medicine worldwide: A systematic
review. BMC Complement Med Ther 2020; 20(1):363 https://doi.org/10.1186/
s12906-020-03157-2