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. 2017 Nov;24(6):349-354.
doi: 10.1136/ejhpharm-2016-001032. Epub 2016 Oct 28.

Studying the knowledge, attitude and practice of antibiotic misuse among Alexandria population

Raghda M El-Hawy  1 , Mohamed I Ashmawy  1 , Menna M Kamal  1 , Hager A Khamis  2 , Naglaa M Abo El-Hamed  3 , Gehad I Eladely  4 , Mayar H Abdo  4 , Yosra Hashem  1 , Marwa Ramadan  4 , Dalia A Hamdy  1
Affiliations

Studying the knowledge, attitude and practice of antibiotic misuse among Alexandria population

Raghda M El-Hawy et al. Eur J Hosp Pharm. 2017 Nov.

Abstract

Aim: To assess knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of antimicrobial self-medication among a convenience sample of population in Alexandria, Egypt.

Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study using a self-administrated semi-constructed questionnaire. A convenience sample of 359 participants was studied using appropriate consent. The questionnaire had four sections: demographics, KAP, professional medical knowledge and attitude of children caregivers toward antimicrobial self-medication. The questionnaire was initially constructed in English and then translated into its final Arabic version. The Arabic version was pilot-tested and face-validated. Descriptive and quantitative analysis were performed using SPSS (V.20.0).

Results: Approximately 64% (231) of the studied population used antibiotics without prescription in the past 12 months. This was significantly correlated with female gender and lack of knowledge. The main reason for self-medication was due to saving time and effort (109, 47%) followed by not preferring doctor visits (89, 39%). More than 60% of cases used amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. The main sources of antibiotics were leftovers from previously prescribed pharmaceuticals and those purchased from community pharmacies. 85 participants were young children caregivers of which 18 (21%) reported administering antibiotics to their children without consulting a physician. Out of 115 who claimed attaining medical background, only 30 (26%) managed to answer section 3 correctly with 23 of them reporting antibiotic self-medication.

Conclusion: This study showed an increased tendency towards antibiotic self-medication among Alexandrian adults and children that was not significantly decreased in population with medical background. The reasons discussed within the study should be further addressed to decrease such practice.

Keywords: Antibiotic Resistance; Child-Care givers attitude; Medical-background population knowledge; medication inadherence; self-medication.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Bar graph showing the behaviour of participants when they experience side effects from their self-medicating antibiotic. A participant could have more than one answer.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Bar graph showing a comparison between the children caregivers’ self-medication practice for themselves and their children in Alexandria.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Pie diagram showing antibiotic therapy compliance among the children population as described by their caregivers in Alexandria.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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