Ali Hassan Gillani1,2,3, Jie Chang1,2,3, Fahmida Aslam4, Amna Saeed1,2,3, Sundus Shukar1,2,3, Farhat Khanum5, Ammar Jairoun6, Alison Nicholson7, Mohamed Izham Mohamed Ibrahim8, Yu Fang1,2,3. 1. Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China. 2. Center for Drug Safety and Policy Research, Xian Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China. 3. Shaanxi Centre for Health Reform and Development Research, Xian, China. 4. School of Business Administration, International Food and Drug Policy Law and Research Center, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China. 5. Department of Pharmacy, Yusra Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan. 6. College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman, UAE. 7. Department of Microbiology, The University of the West Indies (UWI), Kingston, Jamaica. 8. Department of Social & Administrative Pharmacy, Clinical Pharmacy and Practice Section, College of Pharmacy Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Public awareness about antibiotics use is critical in antimicrobial resistance. We evaluated knowledge, attitudes, and practices among the general population of Punjab, Pakistan in this cross-sectional study. METHODS: We used a 50-item questionnaire to collect information on participant demographics, knowledge, and attitudes about antibiotics use and to evaluate the practices of taking antibiotics without a doctor's prescription. RESULTS: Of the 2106 participants who completed surveys, 35.4% thought antibiotics could cure viral infections; 47.5% believed they are effective against cold and flu. Nearly 60% percent of respondents had self-medicated with antibiotics. Married people (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.285, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.004-1.643 p = 0.046), higher antibiotics use knowledge (AOR = 0.818, 95% CI: 0.674-0.993 p = 0.042), ever purchased antibiotics without a physician's prescription (AOR = 2.024 95% CI: 1.674-2.457 p ≤ 0.001) and storing antibiotics at home (AOR = 0.801 95% CI: 0.652-0.985 p = 0.035) were significantly associated with self-medication practices. CONCLUSIONS: A high proportion of inappropriate antibiotics use exists among the general population of Punjab. Interventions are needed to improve health literacy and supervise antibiotics sales in retail pharmacies.
OBJECTIVES: Public awareness about antibiotics use is critical in antimicrobial resistance. We evaluated knowledge, attitudes, and practices among the general population of Punjab, Pakistan in this cross-sectional study. METHODS: We used a 50-item questionnaire to collect information on participant demographics, knowledge, and attitudes about antibiotics use and to evaluate the practices of taking antibiotics without a doctor's prescription. RESULTS: Of the 2106 participants who completed surveys, 35.4% thought antibiotics could cure viral infections; 47.5% believed they are effective against cold and flu. Nearly 60% percent of respondents had self-medicated with antibiotics. Married people (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.285, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.004-1.643 p = 0.046), higher antibiotics use knowledge (AOR = 0.818, 95% CI: 0.674-0.993 p = 0.042), ever purchased antibiotics without a physician's prescription (AOR = 2.024 95% CI: 1.674-2.457 p ≤ 0.001) and storing antibiotics at home (AOR = 0.801 95% CI: 0.652-0.985 p = 0.035) were significantly associated with self-medication practices. CONCLUSIONS: A high proportion of inappropriate antibiotics use exists among the general population of Punjab. Interventions are needed to improve health literacy and supervise antibiotics sales in retail pharmacies.
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Keywords:
Antibiotics awareness; Pakistan; attitudes; general population; practices