Self-medication with antimicrobial drugs in Europe

Abstract

We surveyed the populations of 19 European countries to compare the prevalence of antimicrobial drug self-medication in the previous 12 months and intended self-medication and storage and to identify the associated demographic characteristics. By using a multistage sampling design, 1,000-3,000 adults in each country were randomly selected. The prevalence of actual self-medication varied from 1 to 210 per 1,000 and intended self-medication from 73 to 449 per 1,000; both rates were high in eastern and southern Europe and low in northern and western Europe. The most common reasons for self-medication were throat symptoms (e.g., dry, inflamed, red, or sore throat, inflamed tonsils, tonsil pain). The main medication sources were pharmacies and medication leftover from previous prescriptions. Younger age, higher education, and presence of a chronic disease were associated with higher rates of self-medication. Attempts to reduce inappropriate self-medication should target prescribers, pharmacists, and the general public.

Figure 1

Prevalence of actual self-medication by symptoms or diseases classified by International Classification of Primary Care codes (rates pre 1,000 respondents and 95% confidence iinterval). *Symptoms or diseases with rates <1 per 1,000 respondents, including eye infection, pain, prostatitis, urogenital infection, headache, and "bad health."

Figure 2

Prevalence of intended self-medication per predefined symptom (rates per 1,000 respondents and 95% confidence interval).

Figure A1

Use of major groups of antimicrobial drugs for actual self-medication in 17 countries; countries reporting less than 5 self-medication courses are excluded. DK, Denmark; CZ, Czech Republic; LU, Luxembourg ; BE, Belgium; SK, Slovakia; MT, Malta; RO, Romania; AT, Austria; UK, United Kingdom; IL, Israel; IE, Ireland; SI, Slovenia; PL, Poland; HR, Croatia; IT, Italy; ES, Spain; and LT, Lithuania. **Number of courses (taken in the previous 12 months) per 1,000 respondents per country. †Includes systemic amphenicols (J01B), aminoglycosides (J01G), combinations of systemic antibiotics (J01R) and other systemic antibiotics (J01X).