Self-Medication with Antibiotics Among Out-Patient Attendants Prior to Medical Consultation at A Tertiary Care Hospital - A Cross-Sectional Study (original) (raw)
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F 17 may 2019 idr 203364 self medication of antibiotics investigating practice among
Infection and Drug Resistence, 2019
Background: Self-medication of drugs to alleviate symptoms is a common global behavior, helping relieve burdens on health services, but many drugs eg, antibiotics are prescription-only. Self-medication of antibiotics (SMA) is an irrational use of drugs, contributing to microbial resistance increasing health care costs and higher mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to assess SMA among university students. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among medical and non-medical students of the National Defence University of Malaysia. A validated instrument was used to gather data. Ethics approval was obtained. Random and universal sampling was adopted, and SPSS 21 was used for data analysis. Results: A total of 649 students participated in the study: 48.5% male and 51.5% female, 39.3% reported self-medicating with antibiotics. Penicillin, doxycycline, clarithromycin were the antibiotics most used with the majority reporting no adverse drug reactions. Cost savings and convenience were the principal reasons for SMA which were mainly obtained from local retail pharmacies. Despite medical students (particularly the more senior) having better knowledge of antibiotic use than non-medical students, 89% of all research participants responded that practicing SMA was a good/acceptable practice. Conclusion: SMA is common amongst Malaysian students and, despite understanding why SMA is unwise, even medical students self-medicate.
Patterns of self-medication with antibiotics in Maputo City: a qualitative study
Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control, 2019
Background: Mozambique classifies but does not yet enforce antibiotics as prescription-only-medicine (POM) allowing the public access to a variety of antibiotics that otherwise are provided on prescription. This contributes to the growing practice of self-medication with antibiotics (SMA) which systematically exposes individuals to the risk of developing antibiotic resistance, antibiotic side effects and increases the health service costs and morbidity. This study aimed at describing the patterns of SMA among Maputo city pharmacy customers. Methods: A qualitative study conducted between October 2018 and March 2019 was developed with thirty-two pharmacy customers and seventeen pharmacists. Using convenience sampling, customers were recruited after buying antibiotics without prescription from nine private pharmacies. Of the thirty-two participants, twenty participated in in-depth interviews and twelve in two focus groups discussions (FGD) with six participants each. Purposive sampling and a snowball technique were used to recruit pharmacists. The transcripts were coded and analyzed using latent content analysis. Nvivo 11 was used to store and retrieve the data. The COREQ (Tong, 2007) checklist for interviews and FGD was performed. Results: Customers admitted practices of SMA, pharmacists admitted dispensing a variety of antibiotics without prescription. Non-prescribed antibiotics (NPA) were obtained through five different patterns including; using the generic name, describing the physical appearance and using empty package, describing symptoms or health problem to pharmacists, using old prescriptions and sharing antibiotics with family, friends, and neighbors. Conclusion: Different patterns of SMA are contributing to the indiscriminate use of antibiotics among customers. The NPA utilization is perceived as an expression of self-care where participants experience self-perceived symptoms and indulge in self-treatment as a method of caring for themselves. Moreover, antibiotics are mostly used to treat diseases that do not necessarily need antibiotics. Strong and effective public health education and promotion initiatives should be implemented to discourage inappropriate utilization of antibiotics and SMA practices.
Antibiotics, 2020
The current scoping review is an attempt to explore the key reasons, determinants, patterns and prevalence related to self-medication with antibiotics (SMA) among the lay public. An online search was conducted using Google Scholar, Science Direct, ProQuest and PubMed. A two-phase mapping approach was used. In the first phase, studies were screened. In the second phase, the data were extracted from selected studies followed by the assessment of data quality. A total of 24 studies were included; 20 were cross-sectional, 3 were qualitative and one was observational. The most common indications were flu, cough, common colds, sore throat, diarrhea, toothache and fever. The most common determinants reported were past good experience and suggestions from friends or relatives. The use of SMA was observed to be more frequent in younger aged individuals belonging to low-or middle-income groups. The prevalence rate was reported to be high among the South Asian lay public and may be a major contributor to antibiotic resistance. In conclusion, this scoping review identifies a need for education campaigns and mass media campaigns to strengthen lay public awareness about the side effects and risks associated with SMA. In addition to this, there is a need to implement strict policies by government agencies to restrict over the counter availability of antibiotics.
Heliyon, 2022
Background: Self-medication is the first option and response to most illness episodes. Use of antimicrobials without health care professionals' guidance may result in greater probability of inappropriate use, missed diagnosis, delays in appropriate treatment, pathogen resistance and increased morbidity. There is no sector in the health care community which is immune to drug abuse or misuse of which the worst offenders include physicians, nurses and pharmacy professionals. Self-medication among health care professionals may be an indicator that the health professional is neglecting his or her own health. This represents serious issues for both patients and the professionals. Objective: To assess self-medication practices with antibiotics among health care professionals in selected hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Method: Facility based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to May, 2017 among 317 health care professionals. Convenient sampling technique was used to select study participants. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences software version 20. Binary logistic regression analysis was done to check the relationship between the dependent variable (antibiotic self-medication) and selected independent variables (sex, age, marital status, income, professional qualification and work experience). Results: The prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics among health care professionals in one month recall period was found to be 72 (22.7%). The main reasons given for this practice were being familiar with the treatment options, 31 (43.1%) and need for rapid relief, 25 (34.7%). Respiratory problems, 29 (40.3%) and gastro intestinal problems, 28 (38.9%) were the most common illnesses for which self-medication with antibiotics was practiced while penicillins, 30 (41.6%) and fluoroquinolones, 29 (40.3%) constituted the two most commonly used antibiotics for the same. None of the variables had significant association with the practice of self-medication with antibiotics. Conclusion: Self-medication with antibiotics was common among the study participants. Efforts should be made by health authorities including Drug and Therapeutics Committee, Drugs Regulatory Authority, Hospitals' management and other stakeholders to ensure safe usage of antibiotics.
https://www.ijrrjournal.com/IJRR\_Vol.6\_Issue.10\_Oct2019/Abstract\_IJRR0034.html, 2019
Objective-The study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of self medication with antibiotics among different categories of population residing in Bangalore. Study Design-Cross sectional study. Method-An online survey was conducted among different categories of population residing in Bangalore in Aug 2019 using a validated questionnaire. Results-Out of 900 individuals 780 people participated in the survey, among them 404(51.79%) were females and 376 were males(48.20%).47.17% of them self treated with antibiotics. 70.8% of the participants had basic knowledge about antibiotics .Experience of similar illness and convenience were the most common reasons for self medication. Majority of the participants obtained medications from local pharmacies. Majority of the participants believed that self medication with antibiotics is not an acceptable practice. Oral Penicillin (Amoxicillin), Macrolides, Fluoroquinolones, Tetracyclines, Cephalosporins were the most commonly used antibiotics. Conclusion-Despite of good knowledge on the use of antibiotics among the study participants, self medication with antibiotics was highly prevalent. Creating awareness on misuse and underuse of antibiotics will help in rational use of antibiotics.
European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy, 2016
Background Self-medication with antibiotics is a common practice, which may lead to the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)-a major health concern worldwide. The most common reason for the development of AMR is a lack of education and regulatory policies and the lack of community pharmacists. Objective To assess various factors that lead to selfmedication with antibiotics, which might cause AMR and hinder effective healthcare. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out using a predesigned questionnaire to collect data from 800 respondents. The respondents were selected by simple random sampling during November 2014 to January 2015 from different regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan. Only properly completed questionnaires were assessed for different variables. The collected data were analysed using SPSS V.16. Results 527 people completed and returned the questionnaire-a response rate of 66%. Self-medication with antibiotics was reported by 135 participants (26%), with a higher prevalence of men than women (48% vs 38%, respectively). The main reason for self-medication was previous experience with the same antibiotic (68%). The most commonly used antibiotics were amoxicillinclavulanate (40%) and major indications for selfmedication were sore throat (29%) and flu (24%). Of the 527 respondents, only 104 (20%) were aware of AMR. Conclusions This study is the first to evaluate selfmedication with antibiotics in KPK, Pakistan. In view of the high prevalence of self-medication, introduction of a public health policy through drug regulatory authorities, public awareness programmes/campaigns, patient education about AMR and appropriate use of antibiotics are critically required. The role of community pharmacists needs to be strengthened.
To explore the use of self-medication with antibiotics among the general population in Chennai in the state of Tamilnadu. A total of 1021 adults aged 18 and above were approached and 781 subjects (76.4%) were participated in this study from the period of Jan - March 2014 in Chennai. Face to face interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire to collect data on the socio-demographic details, use of antibiotics, and self-medication with antibiotics with or without prescription, source of antibiotics obtained and most common symptoms/Disease for which antibiotics were frequently used. The prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics in Chennai was 39.1%. Among the eligible representative sample 781, Males 424(54.3%) and females 357(45.7%) were reported the frequent use of self-medication with antibiotics. The use of self-medication with antibiotics was found to be statistically significantly associated with age, income. The major source of obtaining antibiotics without medical prescription was the Pharmacy (P<0.001). Self-medication with antibiotics is common and more prevalent among general population and it is recommended that further research study is needed in this area to know more about it and to understand it better. Doctor’s contribution and altitude is must for minimize or reduce the misuse of antibiotics in the city of Chennai.
2020
Background: Treating a variety of moderate and severe infections affecting human health is now possible thanks to the utilization of antibiotics. This explains why antibiotics are amongst the most commercialized, prescribed and utilized drugs in the world. Nevertheless, the persistent inappropriate use of these precious drugs is growing, with non-prescription sales and practices of self-medication with antibiotics (SMA) undermining the global efforts to rationalize the use and contain the antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study aimed at identifying the commonly used antibiotics and the main health conditions leading to the practice of self-medication with antibiotics. Methods: Between October 2018 and March 2019 we conducted a qualitative study with 32 pharmacy customers and 17 pharmacists working in nine private pharmacies in Maputo city. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions (FGD) were conducted with customers while in-depth interviews were held with pharmacists. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, coded and analysed using latent content analysis. The COREQ (Tong, 2007) checklist for interviews and FGD was performed. Results: The frequent use of non-prescribed antibiotics (NPA) was admitted by 30 of the 32 customers while 15 of the 17 pharmacists admitted NPA dispensing. The commonly used NPA were amoxicillin, cotrimoxazole, azithromycin, metronidazole, amoxicillin with clavulanic acid, tetracycline, doxycycline and erythromycin. Those were used after participants self-diagnosed or self-perceived health conditions related to sore throat, fever, cough, vaginal discharge, eye problem, common flu, urinary infection, respiratory infection, wounds and toothaches. Conclusion: The self-management of illness, the need to save time and the therapeutic itineraries customers adopt, together with the suboptimal dispensing practices of pharmacists, enabled the growing practices of SMA among pharmacies customers. These paves the way to the utilization of antibiotics as a daily basis as an approach to self-manage health problems. Contextual interventions are needed to involve public health stakeholders, pharmacists and healthcare professionals to enlighten customers regarding the inappropriate use of antibiotics at all levels. thanks to the utilization of antibiotics. It is inestimable the value of such medicines for health and in the increase of life expectancy in 2 to 10 years [1]. This value makes a plausible case for why antibiotics are one of the most commercialized, prescribed and utilized drugs in the world [2-7]. However, the irrational and abusive use of antibiotics in the pursuit of health in agriculture, veterinary and human health is driving the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance globally. Antibiotic resistance accounts for more than 2 million infections and at least 23,000 deaths annually in the United States of America [8] and 25,000 deaths in Europe [9, 10]. While in most low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) data and surveillance reports of infection and antibiotic resistance rates are limited, some reliable estimates consider these rates to be higher in these countries [2, 11, 12] due to poor infection prevention control measures and the increased burden of infection. Global trends of antibiotic use estimate that antibiotics are over-used in all regions, with a high incidence in resource constraint countries, some of which use three times the amount of antibiotics per population head compared to other countries with similar disease profiles [1]. Moreover, between 2000 and 2010, the consumption of antibiotic drugs increased in 71 countries by 35%-36%, with countries such as Brazil, China, India, Russia and South Africa accounting for 76% of this increase [8, 13]. The non-prescription sales and consequent practices of self-medication with antibiotics undermines global efforts to reduce the consumption, rationalize the use and contain antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Although self-medication is considered a component of self-care, self-medication with antibiotics may lead to delays seeking medical advice when needed, misdiagnosis, incorrect choice of therapy, incorrect manner of administration (too narrow or too broad), delayed antibiotic therapy in critical patients, and unnecessary use. This exposes patients to increased health risks, such us dangerous drug interactions, adverse drug effects, masking of severe disease, and, most distressing, accidental death and drug resistance [2, 10, 14]. Globally, the sales of antibiotics have increased, especially within the LMICs, where the robustness of the control and law enforcement capabilities are limited, faulty or non-existent. For instance, it is reported that 23% of the increase in the global retail sales volume of antibiotics was attributable to India, where regulations to control over-the-counter sales of antibiotics are poorly enforced [8]. In
National Journal of Community Medicine, 2024
"Background: Self-medication is prevalent globally, making the processes easier but raising potential hazards like antibiotic resistance. College students, influenced by social media, exhibit alarming self-medication behav-iours. This cross-sectional study surveyed undergraduate students across medical, nursing, and non-health sci-ence institutions to assess the self-medication habits, knowledge and attitude of students. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted across various educational institutions from August 2023 to February 2024, targeting undergraduate students aged 18 and over. Using a pre-validated ques-tionnaire, data on socio-demography, self-medication with antibiotics, and related knowledge were collected via Google Forms. The sample size was doubled to 1175 for better statistical power. Data analysis was performed us-ing standard statistical tools. Results: Analysis of data demonstrated that a substantive proportion of students self-medicate with antibiotics. For medical students, convenience was the biggest issue and for non-medical students, it was cost-saving coupled with distrust in doctors. The most common complaint received for self-medication was throat pain. Medical stu-dents used textbooks for necessary information whereas non-medical students went to local shops for advice. Patterns differed somewhat in comparison with international studies, indicating regional differences. Strikingly, medical students predominantly relied on academic knowledge and previous experiences while using antibiotics, whereas non-medical students often obtained antibiotics from shops or the internet, making them vulnerable to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. Conclusion: This highlights the importance of implementing specific interventions to reduce unsafe self-medication practices in students."