Antoun Jamhour1, Ammar El-Kheir2, Pascale Salameh3, Pierre Abi Hanna4, Hanine Mansour5. 1. Faculty of medical sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon; Centre Hospitalier de Rambouillet, Rambouillet, France. 2. Faculty of medical sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon; Hôpital Universitaire des Enfants Reine Fabiola, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Bruxelles, Belgique. 3. Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon. 4. Faculty of medical sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon. 5. Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon. Electronic address: hanine.mansour@lau.edu.lb.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Self-medication is identified by the World Health Organization as a major factor leading to antibiotics overuse, misuse and resistance. This study's objectives were to evaluate the knowledge and self-medication with antibiotics in a sample of the population of Lebanon. METHODS: This study surveyed a sample of adults (over 18 years of age) residing in 2 major cities in Lebanon about their knowledge and self-medication with antibiotics. Health care professionals were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Four hundred questionnaires were completed. Of the responders, 72% were between 18 and 45 years of age with an overall 86% having completed at least high school. For their knowledge about antibiotics, 61% thought that antibiotics should be taken for common cold and 83% knew that misuse of antibiotics could result in microbial resistance. Self-medication significantly correlated with a lower educational level (P = .036). Those with lower knowledge about antibiotics stopped antibiotics at the inappropriate time (P = .002). Socioeconomic status, gender and age did not correlate with self-medication. CONCLUSION: Self-medication was associated with a person's educational level and knowledge of antibiotics. Awareness campaigns and enforcing medication dispensing laws are needed in to avoid self-medication with antibiotics.
BACKGROUND: Self-medication is identified by the World Health Organization as a major factor leading to antibiotics overuse, misuse and resistance. This study's objectives were to evaluate the knowledge and self-medication with antibiotics in a sample of the population of Lebanon. METHODS: This study surveyed a sample of adults (over 18 years of age) residing in 2 major cities in Lebanon about their knowledge and self-medication with antibiotics. Health care professionals were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Four hundred questionnaires were completed. Of the responders, 72% were between 18 and 45 years of age with an overall 86% having completed at least high school. For their knowledge about antibiotics, 61% thought that antibiotics should be taken for common cold and 83% knew that misuse of antibiotics could result in microbial resistance. Self-medication significantly correlated with a lower educational level (P = .036). Those with lower knowledge about antibiotics stopped antibiotics at the inappropriate time (P = .002). Socioeconomic status, gender and age did not correlate with self-medication. CONCLUSION: Self-medication was associated with a person's educational level and knowledge of antibiotics. Awareness campaigns and enforcing medication dispensing laws are needed in to avoid self-medication with antibiotics.
Authors: Ben Parsonage; Philip K Hagglund; Lloyd Keogh; Nick Wheelhouse; Richard E Brown; Stephanie J Dancer Journal: Front Microbiol Date: 2017-11-02 Impact factor: 5.640