Antibiotic dispensing without a prescription across community pharmacies: A simulated patient study.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the proportion of antibiotics dispensed, counseling content, and factors associated with antibiotic dispensing for patients with common cold symptoms among community pharmacists (CPs) in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June 2023 using a simulated patient (SP) method. A total of 352 community pharmacies across 24 districts in HCMC were randomly selected.