The aims of this study were to analyze the utilization of antibiotics before (2018, 2019) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020) and the practice of prescribing antibiotics in outpatient settings for COVID-19 patients during the 2020–2022 period. The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification/Defined Daily Dose methodology was used for the analysis of outpatient antibiotic utilization in the Republic of Srpska. The data was expressed in DDD/1000 inhabitants/day. The rate of antibiotics prescribed to COVID-19 outpatients was analyzed using medical record data from 16,565 patients registered with B34.2, U07.1, and U07.2 World Health Organization International Classification of Diseases 10th revision codes. During 2020, outpatient antibiotic utilization increased by 53.80% compared to 2019. At least one antibiotic was prescribed for 91.04%, 83.05%, and 73.52% of COVID-19 outpatients during 2020, 2021, and the first half of 2022, respectively. On a monthly basis, at least one antibiotic was prescribed for more than 55% of COVID-19 outpatients. The three most commonly prescribed antibiotics were azithromycin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, and doxycycline. The trend of repurposing antibiotics for COVID-19 and other diseases treatment might be a double-edged sword. The long-term effect of this practice might be an increase in antimicrobial resistance and a loss of antibiotic effectiveness.

Background and objectives: the aim of this study was to analyse the utilisation of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) during a 12-year period and to show the characteristics and patterns of their prescribing. Materials and methods: firstly, in the pharmacoepidemiological analyses the ATC/DDD methodology was used to assess the utilisation of PPIs in the Republic of Srpska. The annual PPI utilisation was expressed as a number of DDD/1000 inhabitants/year. Secondly, the cross-sectional surveys were used to reveal the characteristics of PPIs prescribing and medicines use, namely the dose, duration and indication, and possible adverse reactions. For the purposes of the surveys, the adapted version of questionnaires related to physicians’ and patients’ perspectives of medicines prescribing and use were performed. Results: the utilisation of medicines for alimentary tract and metabolism (group A/ATC classification) increased by almost threefold in a 12-year period, which was consistent with the total medicine utilisation. Pantoprazole was the most prescribed medicine among the PPIs. With the exclusion of PPIs in the therapy of Helicobacter pylori eradication, more than half of family physicians prescribed PPIs with antibiotics, and only 53/239 physicians, noticed some adverse reactions of PPIs in their patients. Most of the patients knew how to use PPIs and were taking these medicines in recommended daily doses, but approximately 45% of them were using PPIs for a long period of time (>6 months). Conclusions: the overuse of PPIs is a major concern due to potential serious adverse reactions, especially in elderly patients and in a case of prolonged exposure.

Background and Objectives: Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are among the most prescribed psychotropic drugs and significant number of patients use these drugs for longer periods than recommended. The objective of this study was to determine the factors associated with prescribing of BZDs at the primary healthcare level. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of family physicians’ prescriptions from the databases of family medicine teams of the Republic of Srpska was performed. The number of BZDs users, as well as the total number of prescriptions, were determined. Thereafter, it was determined which specific BZD had been prescribed, in which dose, for how long, as well as the specific social and demographic characteristics of patients to whom the drugs were prescribed. Results: The results showed that 38.47% of patients used the BZDs for a period longer than six months. The most frequent BZDs prescribed were the intermediate-acting BZDs, primarily bromazepam (58.69%). Two thirds of patients were women. The average age of the patients was 60, 60.46% of patients were single, and 69.68% lived in urban areas. The longer uses of BZDs were recorded in women, the elderly, single people and those who lived in urban areas, while higher doses of BZDs were prescribed to men, as well as younger and married people. The highest positive correlation was found between the dose and length of use of BZD. Conclusions: A significant percentage of patients used BZDs for a time period longer than recommended. Caution is necessary when prescribing BZDs to women, the elderly, patients that live in urban areas and patients who are single. When prescribing BZDs, family physicians should be aware of their potential interactions and addictive potentials.

Purpose: To determine the potential value of an adapted questionnaire to discover the predictors of preceptors' higher interest in precepting pharmacy interns and to evaluate preceptors' motivational factors and incentives for teaching as well as their professional satisfaction. Method: A link to the survey study of adapted questionnaire (JSAMPPP) was e-mailed to all pharmacists registered with the Pharmaceutical Chamber of the Republic of Srpska. Pharmacists' demographic and work experience characteristics, their attitudes related to motivation for precepting, value of incentives for precepting, job satisfaction, and influence of interns on pharmacists' professional practice were obtained. Results: Half of the preceptors who reported feeling satisfied with their professional life also showed interest in teaching. In addition, teaching pharmacy students positively contributed to the overall job satisfaction of the preceptors. Pharmacy preceptors were found to be most motivated by intrinsic factors. The most valued incentives reported were those related to continuing education. Conclusions: The adapted questionnaire has potential value and it revealed the following predictors of preceptors' higher interest in precepting: enjoyment of teaching, satisfaction with professional life, satisfaction as a pharmacy preceptor, and interns' influence on preceptors. These identified predictors can be emphasized to improve pharmacy students' internship experiences, thereby reinforcing the pharmacy profession.