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Introduction: Primary dysmenorrhea is a common disorder in women, with a significant impact on quality of life. Aim: The objective of this academic study was to investigate the severity of dysmenorrhea in female students of the Faculty of Medicine in Novi Sad, to estimate the self-medication prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea, to identify the most commonly used conventional, herbal, homeopathic remedies and manner of their usage, as well as non-pharmacological measures in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. Material and Methods: This study was performed on a random sample of 100 respondents from different departments of the Faculty of Medicine in Novi Sad, from December 1st to December 15th, 2016. The data were obtained by using a standardized questionnaire. Results: The sample included 59 female medical students and 41 female students of the other study groups. Most of the respondents had medium expressed symptoms due to dysmenorrhea (48.0%). The most common symptoms were cramps and pain in the lower abdomen, anxiety, and appetite changes. 11% of respondents were absent from classes at the university minimum one day of each menstrual cycle, because of dysmenorrhea. 66% of respondents used drugs due to symptoms of dysmenorrhea. The most commonly used group of drugs were non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (75.76%), primarily ibuprofen (53.03%), and diclofenac (10.61%). Self-medication prevalence was 48.48%. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, dysmenorrhea symptoms significantly impact the quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: With the growing trend for legalization of cannabis and its derivatives in Serbia, pharmacists are likely to be consulted on the safety, efficacy, and drug-drug or drug-disease interactions of medical cannabis. Thus, the aim of our study was to assess pharmacy students' knowledge and attitude toward medical cannabis use in Serbia to determine if additional education is needed. Subjects and methods: In the study students from the final year of the study program of integrated academic studies of pharmacy at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire regarding their knowledge and attitudes on the use of cannabis and its derivatives in medical purposes. After giving their written informed consent, they were instructed by the researchers on how to complete the questionnaire. All questionnaires were administered between August 1, 2017 and August 15, 2017. The study was approved by the Ethical Committee of the Faculty of Medicine in Novi Sad; a total of 80 questionnaires were distributed. The questionnaire consisted of 3 groups of statements on which they should mark level of their agreement related to students' knowledge about the use of cannabis and its derivatives in therapeutical purposes, potential negative effects, dispensing in a pharmacy and legalization of cannabis and its derivatives in medical purposes. Results: Although 91.2% of the respondents agreed that cannabis and its derivatives could potentially have therapeutical effects, much lower percentage of respondents (51.3%) were familiar with possible therapeutical effects of cannabis. The same percentage of respondents learned about therapeutical effects of cannabis from sources other than school. About third (31.3%) of our respondents thought that the use of cannabis and its derivatives in therapeutical purposes could cause their abuse and the similar percentage of respondents (33.8%) thought that issuing cannabis and its derivatives in the pharmacy could expose a pharmacist to the certain dangers such as insisting on the issuing without the prescription or robbery. About 90% of the respondents agreed it is necessary to create clear guidelines for the use of cannabis and its derivatives in therapeutical purposes and 76.3% of the respondents thought that doctor's prescription is necessary for their dispensing in a pharmacy. Most of the respondents (75%) agreed that, based on the experiences of the countries which have approved the use of cannabis and its derivatives in therapeutical purposes, its use in those purposes should be approved in Serbia. Conclusion: The majority of pharmacy students supported medical cannabis legalization but only with strict legal regulations and clear guidelines for their use implemented. Further education of the pharmacist about therapeutical effect of cannabis is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The objective of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and behavior regarding antibiotics of the general population. Methods: The study sample consisted of adult subjects who consulted general practitioners at health centers in Serbia and agreed to complete the questionnaire. A total of 668 questionnaires were distributed; 500 respondents completed the entire questionnaire (response rate 74.85%). Results: The average age was 51.65 ± 16.56 years, 60.80% of the respondents were women. The median antibiotic knowledge score was 9. Predictors of adequate antibiotic knowledge were higher education level and a family member whose ocuppation was related to health-care. Overall, 58.4% of respondents believed that antibiotics could be used to treat common cold. Around a half of the respondents (47.2%) self-medicated with antibiotics at least once during their life-time, and around a quarter (24.2%) during the last treatment of infection. Patients with inadequate knowledge had 3 times higher chances of self-medicating with antibiotics compared to those with adequate knowledge. Although 98.20% of respondents claimed that antibiotic treatment should be started after a visit to a doctor and receiving a prescription, only 65.8% obtained antibiotics with prescription from a doctor during the last infection. Conclusions: Although these results demonstrate that respondents had a relatively adequate level of knowledge regarding antibiotics use, some areas of misconceptions and improper behavior were identified. Therefore, further rationalization should be focused on educational campaigns targeting the behavior of patients with regard to antibiotic use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hypertension is a significant risk factor for stroke, myocardial infarction, and heart failure. Maintaining adequate blood pressure helps preventing cardiovascular complications. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge about hypertension and associated factors in controlling high blood pressure among hypertensive outpatients in the municipality of Bačka Topola, Republic of Serbia. Methods: The outpatients who visited their doctors and agreed to fill out an anonymous questionnaire were included in the survey conducted in March 2019 at the Primary Health Care Center of the municipality of Bačka Topola. The questions were related to the sociodemographic characteristics and medication-associated factors of significance for assessment of the outpatients’ knowledge about antihypertensive drugs. Results: The mean age of patients was 62.9±10.7 years. Most frequently prescribed antihypertensive drugs were ACE inhibitors (80.8%) followed by beta blockers (46.8%), calcium channel blockers (22.6%) and diuretics (21%), fixed dose antihypertensive drugs were used by 4.8% patients. Majority of adequate knowledge participants had well controlled blood pressure (91.4%), while only 37.1% of average knowledge participants had well controlled blood pressure. The other factors related to poor blood pressure control and lower level of knowledge about hypertension were older age, female gender, lower level of education, less frequent visits to the GP, patients with more than one antihypertensive drug, patients with longer duration of hypertension treatment and patients who were not paying copayment for their antihypertensive drugs. Conclusions: The results of our study indicate that the patients’ knowledge about hypertension and associated factors regarding the treatment of hypertension play an important role in maintaining blood pressure at the safe level. Therefore, educational campaigns are the key factors for the quality and satisfactory knowledge about use of antihypertensive drugs and management of hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Although they represent an important mediator between patients and National Pharmacovigilance Centre, pharmacists still don't participate enough in system of reporting adverse drug reactions (ADR). By reporting ADR both quality of therapy and quality of patient's life are improving, and pharmaceutical industry is also encouraged to invent and produce new formulations which will be better beared and whose use will significantly improve risk-benefit ratio. Aim: The aim of this work is that by collecting information about ADRs, based on direct contact of a pharmacist and patients, explain and improve the role of a pharmacist in pharmacovigilance system. Subjects and Methods: Information about adverse reactions were being collected in three private pharmacies in Inđija and in one private pharmacy in Sombor. In period from 20.12.2017.-10.01.2018. pharmacists collected data about adverse reactions of medicines. In period from 11.01.-01.02.2018. patients were additionally informed about unexpected and adverse drug reactions. The standard form for reporting an adverse reaction, which was taken from the site of Medicines and Medical Devices Agency of Serbia (ALIMS), was filled for each reported case and sent to National Pharmacovigilance Center (NPC). Suspect drugs were classified in categories according to Anatomical-Therapeutic-Chemical classification (ATC). Results: In first period, there were 19 reported reactions. After additional information given to patients, there were 33 reported adverse reactions. The most numerous adverse drug reactions were reported for the group of cardiovascular drugs (32.7%), the group of anti-infective drugs with systemic effects (15.4%) and for group of drugs which affect nervous system (13.5%). After analyzing reported reactions, according to NPC all of reactions were expected (52), but 3 of them fulfilled criteria of seriousness. Conclusions: Thanks to additional information and direct communication between a pharmacist and patients, reporting unexpected and adverse drug reactions is signifi- cantly improving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are no national estimates for the prevalence of DM in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), available data is extrapolated from neighboring countries. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of DM, as well as utilization of antidiabetic drugs (ADs) and exposure rates of DM patients to ADs in the eastern region of the Republic of Srpska (RS), BiH. For external reference, data were compared to that from Serbia, Hungary and Norway. Data on the number of all adult patients with DM type 1 and 2 in the three municipalities in the eastern region of RS were obtained from medical records. The use of ADs in the RS, Serbia, Hungary and Norway for the year of 2013 was analysed by ATC/Defined Daily Dose methodology. The exposure of DM patients to ADs was expressed in percentage. The recorded DM prevalence in the three observed municipalities was 6.65%, with high proportion of type 1 compared to type 2 DM (25.32% to 74.68%). The total consumption of ADs recorded in our study was similar to those in Norway, but lower than in Serbia and Hungary. The percentage of theoretical exposure of each patient to ADs was only 78,24%, similar to that in Serbia (80.6%), whereas Norway and especially Hungary had exceptionally good exposure rates (103,8 and 126.5%). High proportion of type 1 DM patients recorded in our study indicates the insufficient detection of DM, especially type 2, whereas the low exposure rate of patients with DM to ADs indicates that even the registered patients with DM are undertreated. There is an urgent need for interventions in prevention and treatment of DM in BiH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]