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. 2021 Jun 9;16(5):767-770.
doi: 10.1016/j.jtumed.2021.05.001. eCollection 2021 Oct.

Preliminary findings of a study on the practice of self-medication of antibiotics among the practicing nurses of a tertiary care hospital

Akbar S Ali  1 , Rahim Jandani  2 , Arwa A Al-Qahtani  3 , Abdulkarem A S Alenzi  3
Affiliations

Preliminary findings of a study on the practice of self-medication of antibiotics among the practicing nurses of a tertiary care hospital

Akbar S Ali et al. J Taibah Univ Med Sci. .

Abstract

Objectives: Antibiotic resistance is indeed a global concern. It is of significant concern especially in the low-middle income countries because of the ease of accessibility, affordability, and absence of regulations pertaining to the dispensing of non-prescription antibiotics. This study aims to estimate the frequency and factors associated with the self-medication of antibiotics found among the practicing nurses.

Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan from July 2016 to August 2016.

Results: Of the 48 recruited nurses, 60.4% (29/48) were practicing self-medication of antibiotics. There were slightly more male nurses (17/29) than their female counterparts. The most frequently used antibiotic was Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid, which was reported by 72.4% (21/29) of the nurses. The most prominent factor urging the nurses for practicing self-medication of antibiotics was their perceived knowledge of antibiotics, as was the case with 72.4% (21/29) of the nurses. Fever (79.3%) and sore throat (65.5%) were the two most frequent health problems that prompted the nurses to practice antibiotics self-medication. An earlier experience of the use of antibiotics was reported by 51.7% (15/29) of the nurses. Only 20.7% (6/29) of the nurses completed the entire antibiotic course. The adverse effects of antibiotics were encountered by 41.4% (12/29) of the nurses, which included diarrhoea, nausea, and vomiting.

Conclusions: The self-medication of antibiotics is a frequent practice found among the practicing nurses in Karachi. It is a pressing concern and needs considerable attention from the healthcare authorities.

Keywords: Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid; Antibiotic; Fever; Nurses; Self-medication.

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Figure 1
Figure 1
The Antibiotics Frequently used by the Practicing Nurses for Self-medication.
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