@article{ajps2017525,
author={{Khalifeh, Malak and Moore, Nicholas and Salameh, Pascale},
title={Community Usage Pattern of Antibiotics within Lebanese Population: A Prospective Study},
journal={American Journal of Pharmacological Sciences},
volume={5},
number={2},
pages={49--56},
year={2017},
url={http://pubs.sciepub.com/ajps/5/2/5},
issn={2327-672X},
abstract={Introduction: Antibiotic misuse is a worldwide public health problem and a major cause of antibiotic resistance. Objective: The aim of this study therefore was to describe the usage pattern of antibiotics in Lebanon. Method: It is a prospective study in a community-based pharmacy setting in Lebanon. It uses a structured random interview to patients visiting community pharmacy seeking for antibiotics. Baseline characteristics and reason for self-medication were collected. Completing a self-administered questionnaire after 30 days provided information on safety, efficacy and usage pattern. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test. Results: 62.7% of 501 participants bought antibiotic without prescription. Pharmacists were the main helpers (34.7%). Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid was the most used antibiotic as self-medication (33.7%). The overall average dispensation was 9.07 DDD for short term use (< 2 weeks). In the follow up, the average DDD consumed by patient was7.07 DDD and 62.5% were consumed between 1 to 7 DDD. The average request per year was 3.35 which was significantly higher in patients without prescription than with prescription (p= .029).Males were dispensed more DDDs than females but the result was not significant. Patients with ages from 25-50 years old had significantly consumed more than 1 DDD per day (61.7%) compared to patients with age above than 50 years old (41%, p=.002). Conclusion: Antibiotic consumption in Lebanon is uncontrolled. Educational programs should be implemented for the public to reduce the usage of antibiotic.},
doi={10.12691/ajps-5-2-5}
publisher={Science and Education Publishing}
}