Dispensing and Purchasing Antibiotics Without Prescription: A Cross-sectional Study Among Pharmacists and Patients in Beirut, Lebanon

被引:4
作者
Kakati, Rasha [1 ]
Nakad Borrego, Sanaa [1 ]
Zareef, Rana [1 ]
Atallah, Johnny [1 ]
Farhat, Souha [1 ]
Daye, Nahla [1 ]
Sadek, Sandra [1 ]
Bardus, Marco [1 ,2 ,3 ]
机构
[1] Amer Univ Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
[2] Univ Birmingham, Birmingham, England
[3] Univ Birmingham, Coll Med & Dent Sci, Edgbaston Campus, Birmingham B15 2TT, England
关键词
antimicrobial resistance; antibiotic purchasing and dispensing; pharmacists; individual behavior; Lebanon; RESISTANCE; COMMUNITY; KNOWLEDGE; CONSUMPTION; POPULATION; HOSPITALS; MEDIA;
D O I
10.1177/00469580231167712
中图分类号
R19 [保健组织与事业(卫生事业管理)];
学科分类号
摘要
Antimicrobial resistance is a global public health issue, exacerbated by dispensing and purchasing antibiotics without a prescription, common in low- and middle-income countries, such as Lebanon. This study aimed to (1) describe behavioral patterns underpinning dispensing and purchasing antibiotics without a prescription among pharmacists and patients, (2) describe reasons for, and (3) attitudes toward these behaviors. A cross-sectional study targeted pharmacists and patients, respectively, identified through stratified random sampling and convenience sampling from all 12 Beirut quarters. Questionnaires assessed behavioral patterns, reasons for, and attitudes toward dispensing and purchasing antibiotics without prescription among the 2 samples. A total of 70 pharmacists and 178 patients were recruited. About a third (37%) of pharmacists supported dispensing antibiotics without a prescription, considering it acceptable; 43% of patients report getting antibiotics without a prescription. Reasons for distributing and purchasing antibiotics without prescription include financial costs associated with the drugs and convenience, coupled with inexistent law enforcement. Dispensing antibiotics without prescription was shared among a relatively high proportion of pharmacists and patients residing in Beirut. Dispensing antibiotics without prescription is common in Lebanon, where law enforcement needs to be stronger. National efforts, including anti-AMR campaigns and law enforcement, must be rapidly implemented to avoid the double disease burden, especially when old and new vaccines are available, and superbugs are making preventative public health efforts more difficult.
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页数:11
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