“Antibiotics kill things very quickly” - consumers’ perspectives on non-prescribed antibiotic use in Saudi Arabia

Alhomoud, Faten; Aljamea, Zainab; Basalelah, Lama

doi:10.1186/s12889-018-6088-z

Cited by 38 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 27 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In line with previous studies, the main four motives quoted for borrowing or lending prescription medications were ‘having the same problem as the person’, ‘running out of previously prescribed medicines’, ‘the problem wasn’t serious enough to go to the doctor’ and ‘having leftovers that would have gone to waste’. However, other studies have shown that unusual situations when professional help is not available, distrust in physicians, inconvenience of contacting a physician, availability of a drug with person nearby, financial saving were potential reasons for sharing prescription medications …”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

See 1 more Smart Citation

‘Sharing may not be caring’ — Prescription medication sharing among adults in Saudi Arabia

Alhomoud

2019

International Journal of Pharmacy Practice

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

ObjectivesThe aim of the current study was to describe prescription medication sharing behaviours (i.e. borrowing and lending) among adults living in Saudi Arabia. Methods This cross-sectional survey was conducted in Saudi Arabia during December 2018. The eligibility criteria were an ability to communicate in Arabic or English and aged ≥18 years. An online survey was distributed to a convenience sample, supplemented by snowballing, by email and social media via an Internet link leading to a web-based survey platform in QuestionPro to assess their medication sharing behaviours. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the associations. Key findings A total of 667 completed the questionnaire. The prevalence of borrowing and lending prescription medication was found to be 14% and 16% in 2018 (past year), respectively. Twenty per cent of participants revealed that they had given a medication prescribed for one child to another child in their care, and 75% reported having leftover prescription medicine at home. The majority (90%) had borrowed or lent on one to three occasions. A wide range of medications were borrowed and lent mainly between immediate family members. Different reasons have been identified for medicine borrowing or lending behaviours. Conclusions Borrowing and lending prescription medications are a common practice in the Saudi population. Further research is warranted into the development of successful approaches or interventions to reduce medication sharing behaviour. 256Prescription medication sharing Results Survey response and participants' characteristicsA total of 667 completed the questionnaire. The majority of participants were female (485/667; 72.7%), were Saudis Faten Alhomoud 257 AOR, adjusted odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; P, probability value. a Reference category for the logistic regressions.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

“…People living in Saudi Arabia may be more likely to share prescription medications because of the large household size, and the assumed larger quantity of medicines stored at home for later use . A study conducted in Saudi Arabia found a mean of eight medicines per household, with 30% holding at least 10 medications .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Sharing may not be caring’ — Prescription medication sharing among adults in Saudi Arabia

Alhomoud

2019

International Journal of Pharmacy Practice

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Experts and academics in the field should discuss and reach consensus on the required questions in the AMR survey module. The critical point is the linkage between levels of knowledge and awareness to behaviors which are influenced by various factors such as access to healthcare or social and cultural aspects [36]. The surveys can be a surrogate measure used to probe into possible causes of the problem.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Surveys of knowledge and awareness of antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance in general population: A systematic review

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Currently, various tools exist to evaluate knowledge and awareness of antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and are applied by various organizations. Previous systematic reviews have focused mainly on study findings such as levels of knowledge and AMR awareness. However, the survey procedures and data instruments used ought to be scrutinized as well, since they are important contributors to credible results. This review aims to assess the study methods and procedures of existing population-based surveys and explore key components which determine the general population's levels of knowledge and awareness of antibiotic use and AMR. Methods We searched existing literature for population-based surveys which sought knowledge and awareness of antibiotic use or AMR in the general population. Databases searched included Ovid, MEDLINE and EMBASE, PsycINFO and Scopus, domestic journals and gray literature sources. Population-based cross-sectional studies published in English or Thai from January 2000 to December 2018 were included in the review. Quality assessment was conducted using the 'Appraisal Tool for Cross-Sectional Studies' (AXIS).

show abstract

“… 77 Pharmacists, therefore, criticise the physicians for contributing to strengthen the public belief that antibiotics are effective and quick to treat all diseases. 23 Moreover, because medicines are seem as commodities and precious goods, and patients are not active recipients of health care, the individual’s adjust, make considerations and use the accumulated and constructed health information gained thanks to their experiences and their interactions with previously prescribed or used medicines, with health care providers and prescribers. 5 , 31 , 79 Patients tend to recall the bad or good previous experiences with sickness events, the healing process, the therapeutic itinerary adopted and the prescribed medications and their sources to socially construct the need for antibiotic and or make decision to demand for it.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pharmacists’ practices for non-prescribed antibiotic dispensing in Mozambique

Torres¹,

Solomon²,

Middleton³

2020

Pharm Pract (Granada)

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Antibiotics are the most frequently used medicines worldwide with most of the countries defining these as prescription-only medicines. Though, dispensing non-prescribed antibiotics represent one of the chief causal factors to the irrational use of antibiotics that paves the way to the development of antimicrobial resistance. Objective: We aimed at describing the practices and the enablers for non-prescribed antibiotic dispensing in Maputo city, Mozambique. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted, between October 2018 and March 2019, in nine private pharmacies randomly selected across Maputo city. Eighteen pharmacists were contacted and seventeen enrolled through snowball sampling. In-depth interviews were conducted, audiotaped, and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were coded and analysed though thematic analysis with guidelines from Braun and Clark. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies (COREQ) checklist by (Tong, 2007) was performed. Results: Out of seventeen, fifteen pharmacists admitted non-prescribed dispensing of antibiotics. Common antibiotic dispensing practices included; dispensing without prescription, without asking for a brief clinical history of patients, without clear explanation of the appropriate way of administering, without advising on the side effects. Reasons for non-prescribed antibiotic dispensing are linked to patients’ behaviour of demanding for non-prescribed antibiotics, to the patients expectations and beliefs on the healing power of antibiotics, to the physicians’ prescribing practices. Other reasons included the pressure for profits from the pharmacy owners, the fragile law enforcement, and absence of accountability mechanisms. Conclusions: The practices of non-prescribed antibiotic dispensing characterize the ‘daily life’ of the pharmacists. On the one hand, the patient’s demand for antibiotics without valid prescriptions, and pharmacist’s wish to assist based on their role in the pharmacy, the pressure for profits and on the understanding of the larger forces driving the practices of self-medication with antibiotics - rock. On the other hand, pharmacists are aware of the legal status of antibiotics and the public health consequences of their inappropriate dispensing practices and their professional and ethical responsibility for upholding the law - hard place. Highlighting the role of pharmacists and their skills as health promotion professionals is needed to optimizing antibiotic dispensing and better conservancy in Mozambique.

show abstract

“Antibiotics kill things very quickly” - consumers’ perspectives on non-prescribed antibiotic use in Saudi Arabia

Cited by 38 publications

References 27 publications

‘Sharing may not be caring’ — Prescription medication sharing among adults in Saudi Arabia

‘Sharing may not be caring’ — Prescription medication sharing among adults in Saudi Arabia

Surveys of knowledge and awareness of antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance in general population: A systematic review

Pharmacists’ practices for non-prescribed antibiotic dispensing in Mozambique

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About