Evaluation of Self-medication Use of Antibiotics within Lebanese Population: A Prospective Pilot Study

Malak Khalifeh^{1, 2,} , Nicholas Moore¹ and Pascale Salameh²

¹INSERM U 1219 - Pharmaco-épidémiologie et évaluation de l'impact des produits de santé sur les populations, University de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France

²Clinical & Epidemiological Research Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon

Cite this paper:
Malak Khalifeh, Nicholas Moore and Pascale Salameh. Evaluation of Self-medication Use of Antibiotics within Lebanese Population: A Prospective Pilot Study. American Journal of Pharmacological Sciences. 2017; 5(2):31-39. doi: 10.12691/ajps-5-2-3

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the appropriateness of antibiotic used in community based pharmacy setting. Method: It is a cross sectional prospective study in a community-based pharmacy setting in Lebanon. It uses a structured random interview to patients visiting a community pharmacy and seeking for antibiotics. Baseline characteristics and reason for self-medication were collected. Completing the questionnaire after 30 days provided information on adherence and usage pattern. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test. A multivariate logistic regression was performed to predict factors affecting appropriateness. Results: 62.7% of 501 participants bought antibiotics without prescription. Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid was the most used antibiotic as self-medication (33.7%). 62.4% of patients used the right antibiotic and 80.1% used it in correct dosage. The duration of treatment was inappropriate in the majority of cases (68.6%). When all of these three factors were summed together, it turned out that 83.6% of antibiotics were utilized inappropriately. Appropriateness in use was seen in 27.6% and 16.4% of the prescribed and non-prescribed antibiotics respectively. Conclusion: Our study shows great misuse of antibiotics and hence there is a need to increase awareness of the health risks related to inappropriate and uncontrolled use of antibiotics.

Keywords:
self-medication antibiotic Lebanon misuse appropriate use

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