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The two emergency contraceptive drugs ("morning-after pill") ulipristal acetate and levonorgestrel are available without prescription in many European countries. In Albania, ulipristal acetate is not marketed yet and levonorgestrel has still prescription-only status. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and socioeconomic correlates of emergency contraceptive (EMC) use, collect sales figures, and gain information on the women's way of purchasing EMCs in post-communist Albania.For this cross-sectional study, self-administered questionnaires were made accessible to women in Albania in March 2015 by hard copy or online via social networks. Women were asked about lifetime use and last year's use of EMCs, and if they purchased EMCs with or without a prescription. Additionally, pharmacies were contacted and asked about EMC sales figures.Of the 205 participating women, 80.5% knew about the availability and use of EMCs, and 15.1% reported EMC use during the previous 12 months. The lifetime prevalence of use was 46.8%. Although having prescription-only status in Albania, 96% of the women bought EMCs without a physician's prescription. Knowledge was significantly lower among the lower educated women and among women residing in small cities. Use of EMCs was significantly higher in women with a weaker financial background and, compared with small cities, in those from large or mid-sized cities. The 54 participating pharmacies (3% of all Albanian pharmacies) reported selling 11 EMCs on average per month. The use of EMCs may be estimated at 0.22 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day. Compared to January 2015, EMC sales increased by 17% in February 2016.Compared to other European countries, the prevalence of EMC use seems to be higher in Albania. Use and knowledge of EMCs depend on socioeconomic characteristics. It is recommended to switch EMCs to non-prescription status in transitional Albania.Die 2 Notfallkontrazeptiva („Pille danach“) Ulipristalacetat und Levonorgestrel sind in vielen europäischen Ländern ohne Verschreibung erhältlich. Während in Albanien Ulipristalacetat nicht verfügbar ist, untersteht Levonorgestrel immer noch der Verschreibungspflicht. Ziel dieser Studie war, die Prävalenz sowie die sozioökonomischen Korrelate des Gebrauchs von Notfallkontrazeptiva zu erfassen, Verkaufszahlen zu erheben sowie Informationen über die Art des Zugangs der Frauen zu Notfallkontrazeptiva im post-kommunistischen Albanien zu ermitteln.Für diese Querschnittstudie wurden im März 2015 selbst auszufüllende Fragebögen an Frauen in Albanien verteilt oder über Internet mittels sozialer Netzwerke zugänglich gemacht. Die Frauen wurden gefragt, ob sie jemals oder während der letzten 12 Monate Notfallkontrazeptiva verwendet hatten, und ob sie das Notfallkontrazeptivum mit oder ohne Rezept erworben hatten. Zusätzlich wurden auch Apotheken kontaktiert und gebeten, ihre Verkaufszahlen zu Notfallkontrazeptiva zu übermitteln.Von den 205 Teilnehmerinnen waren 80,5% über die Möglichkeit der Notfallkontrazeption informiert. 15,1% hatten ein Notfallkontrazeptivum innerhalb der letzten 12 Monate verwendet. Die Lebenszeitprävalenz lag bei 46.8%. Obwohl Notfallkontrazeptiva in Albanien verschreibungspflichtig sind, erwarben 96% der Frauen diese Mittel ohne ärztliche Verordnung. Frauen mit geringerer Bildung und Frauen aus Kleinstädten waren signifikant weniger über die Möglichkeit der Notfallkontrazeption informiert. Der Gebrauch von Notfallkontrazeptiva war bei Frauen mit schwächerem finanziellen Hintergrund signifikant erhöht, ebenso wie bei Frauen aus mittelgroßen Städten und Großstädten (im Vergleich zu Kleinstädten). Die 54 teilnehmenden Apotheken (3% aller albanischen Apotheken) gaben an, durchschnittlich 11 Notfallkontrazeptiva pro Monat verkauft zu haben. Der Gebrauch von Notfallkontrazeptiva kann grob mit 0,22 definierten Tagesdosen pro 1000 Einwohner und Tag geschätzt werden. Verglichen mit Januar 2015 wurden im Februar 2016 17% mehr Notfallkontrazeptiva verkauft.Im Vergleich zu anderen europäischen Ländern scheint der Gebrauch von Notfallkontrazeptiva in Albanien höher zu sein. Sowohl Gebrauch von als auch Wissen über Notfallkontrazeptiva hängen von sozioökonomischen Faktoren ab. Die Entlassung dieser Arzneimittel aus der Verschreibungspflicht ist in Albanien empfehlenswert.

Aim: We aimed to assess the level of information about use and administration of medications prescribed by family physicians to adult primary health care (PHC) users in a transitional South Eastern European population.We aimed to assess adult primary health care (PHC) users’ understanding of their medication information in a transitional South Eastern European population across seven domains. Methods: A cross-sectional study, carried out in Albania in 2018-19, included a representative sample of 1553 PHC users aged ≥18 years (55%women; overall mean age: 54.6±16.4 years; overall response rate: 94%). Participants were asked about their understanding of information they received from their respective family physicians about prescribed medicines in terms of factors like cost, dosage, and side-effects.Participants were inquired about the information received by their respective family physicians in cases when they were prescribed medicines. Socio-demographic data were also gathered. Binary logistic regression was employed to assess the socio-demographic predictors of information about medication use and administration. Results: Across different aspects of use and administration, 21%-60% of participants did not understand their medications.Overall, 21%-60% of participants usually did not understand different aspects related to the information about use of medications prescribed by their family physicians. Less understanding of medication use was particularly high among the poor and those with low education and among urban residents, irrespective of socioeconomic status.The lack of understating of the information about medication use was particularly higher among the poor and the low educated individuals and, irrespective of the socioeconomic status, among urban residents. Conclusion: This study provides important evidence on about the level and socio-demographic determinants of on understanding of the information about medication use and administration among adult PHC users in a transitional former communist country in South Eastern Europe. Policymakers should be aware of the joint role and interplay between health literacy (demand side) and information provision (supply side), which both significantly influence the understanding of medication use by the general population.

Evidence about the magnitude and determinants of medication intake adherence among patients and the general population in Southeastern Europe is scant.To assess the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of medication intake adherence among adult primary health-care (PHC) users in Albania.A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2018-2019 in a representative sample of 1553 adult PHC users (response: 94%) selected probabilistically from 5 major regions of Albania. There were 849 (55%) women and 704 (45%) men, with a mean age 54.6 (16.4) years. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire inquired about medication intake adherence prescribed by family physicians, and sociodemographic characteristics. Binary logistic regression was used to assess the sociodemographic correlates of medication intake adherence.Three hundred (19.8%) participants did not take the prescribed medication. In multivariable-adjusted logistic model, significant correlates of nonintake of medication included rural residence, low educational level, unemployment and low economic level. Among these 300 participants, 273 (91%) considered the high cost of the drugs as a reason for not taking the medication.We found a high prevalence of nonintake of medication prescribed by family physicians. Decision-makers and policy-makers in Albania and elsewhere should consider the provision of essential drugs free of charge or at low cost to low socioeconomic groups and other vulnerable and marginalized population categories, because the costs of noncompliance will eventually be higher.الانتشار والارتباطات الاجتماعية السكانية للالتزام بتناول الدواء بين مستخدمي الرعاية الصحية الأولية في ألبانيا.دجانا روشي، جينك بورازيري، سالفاتوري إيطاليا، بيتر شرودر-بيك، ألبان إيلي، هيلموت براند.لا توجد أدلة تُذكر على حجم الالتزام بتناول الدواء ومحدداته بين المرضى وعموم السكان في جنوب شرق أوروبا.هدفت هذه الدراسة إلى تقييم مدى الانتشار والارتباطات الاجتماعية السكانية للالتزام بتناول الدواء بين مستخدمي الرعاية الصحية الأولية في ألبانيا.أُجريت دراسة مقطعية في عامي 2018-2019 على عينة مُثِّلة ضمت 1553 من مستخدمي الرعاية الصحية الأولية من البالغين (الاستجابة: 94٪) وقد اختيروا باحتمالية من 5 مناطق رئيسية في ألبانيا. واشتملت العينة على 849 امرأة (55٪) و 704 رجلً (45٪)، وبلغ متوسط أعمارهم 54.6 سنة (16.4). واستفسر استبيان منظم يديره محاور عن الالتزام بتناول الأدوية الموصوفة من أطباء الأسرة، والخصائص الاجتماعية السكانية لذلك. واستُخدم الانحدار اللوجستي الثنائي لتقييم الارتباطات الاجتماعية السكانية للالتزام بتناول الدواء.لم يتناول ثلاثمائة مشارك (19.8٪) الدواء الموصوف. وفي النموذج اللوجستي المُعدَّل متعدد المتغيرات، اشتملت الارتباطت المهمة لعدم تناول الدواء على الإقامة الريفية، وانخفاض المستوى التعليمي، والبطالة، وانخفاض المستوى الاقتصادي. ومن بين المشاركين البالغ عددهم 300 شخص، اعتبر 273 (91٪) ارتفاع تكلفة الأدوية سببًا لعدم تناولها.وجدنا ارتفاع معدل انتشار عدم تناول الأدوية التي يصفها أطباء الأسرة. وينبغي لصناع القرار وصناع السياسات في ألبانيا وفي أماكن أخرى أن ينظروا في توفير الأدوية الأساسية مجانًا أو بتكلفة منخفضة جدًا للفئات الاجتماعية الاقتصادية المنخفضة وغيرها من الفئات السكانية الضعيفة والمهمشة، لأن تكاليف عدم الامتثال ستكون أعلى في نهاية المطاف.Prévalence et corrélats sociodémographiques de l'observance thérapeutique chez les usagers des soins de santé primaires en Albanie.Les données sur l’ampleur et les déterminants de l’observance thérapeutique chez les patients et dans la population générale en Europe du Sud-Est sont rares.Évaluer la prévalence et les corrélats sociodémographiques de l'observance thérapeutique chez les usagers des soins de santé primaires adultes en Albanie.Une étude transversale a été menée en 2018-2019 auprès d'un échantillon représentatif de 1553 adultes usagers des soins de santé primaires (taux de réponse : 94 %) sélectionnés de manière aléatoire dans cinq grandes régions d'Albanie. Il s’agissait de 849 femmes (55 %) et 704 hommes (45 %), dont l’âge moyen était de 54,6 ans (16,4). Un questionnaire structuré administré par un enquêteur a permis de s'enquérir de l'observance thérapeutique pour les médicaments prescrits par les médecins de famille, et des caractéristiques sociodémographiques. La régression logistique binaire a été utilisée pour évaluer les corrélats sociodémographiques de l’observance thérapeutique.Trois cents participants (19,8 %) n'ont pas pris les médicaments prescrits. Dans le modèle logistique ajusté multivarié, les corrélats significatifs de la non-prise de médicaments comprenaient la résidence rurale, le faible niveau d'éducation, le chômage et le faible niveau économique. Parmi ces 300 participants, 273 (91 %) ont considéré le coût élevé des médicaments comme une raison de ne pas les prendre.Nous avons constaté une forte prévalence de la non-prise de médicaments prescrits par les médecins de famille. Les décideurs et les responsables de l’élaboration des politiques en Albanie et ailleurs devraient envisager la fourniture de médicaments essentiels gratuitement ou à un coût très bas pour les groupes à faible revenu et les autres catégories de population vulnérables et marginalisées, car le coût de la non-observance sera en fin de compte plus élevé.

AIM: To assess the level of knowledge of the adult users of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) regarding their side effects and the socio-demographic factors associated with the use of these drugs in the adult population of Albania.METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study including a representative sample of 199 individuals aged ≥18 years (77% women; overall mean age: 30.3±10.0 years; overall response rate: 90%) who were users of NSAIDs recruited in ten different pharmacies in Tirana municipality during April-May 2015. A self-administered questionnaire contained basic socio-demographic information and questions about NSAIDs use, their types, participants' knowledge about NSAIDs side effects and their interaction with other drugs.RESULTS: In 56% of the cases, NSAIDs were taken by participants' own decisions, whereas in about 29% of the cases these drugs were prescribed by physicians. Acetaminophen, ketoprofen and ibuprofen were the most frequently used NSAIDs. Overall, 51% of participants thought NSAIDs could cause allergic reactions, whereas one third or fewer were aware of each of the following side effects: upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding, hypertension, gastritis, kidney failure, myopathy, osteoporosis. About one third of participants were aware of NSAIDs-other drug interactions, whereas some of them were already taking contraindicated drugs. No significant differences were noticed regarding sex, age, educational level, employment status and marital status, with very few exceptions.CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate limited knowledge about NSAIDs side effects and their interaction with other drugs among the Albania adult population, which is a cause of concern.