Preliminary findings of a study on the practice of self-medication of antibiotics among the practicing nurses of a tertiary care hospital

• Published in: Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences Vol. 16; no. 5; pp. 767 - 770
• Main Authors: Ali, Akbar S., Jandani, Rahim, Al-Qahtani, Arwa A., Alenzi, Abdulkarem A.S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Saudi Arabia Elsevier Ltd 01-10-2021; Taibah University; Elsevier
• Subjects: Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid; Antibiotic; Brief Communication; Fever; Nurses; Self-medication; Antibiotic; Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid; Self-medication; Nurses; Fever
• ISSN: 1658-3612; 1658-3612
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jtumed.2021.05.001

Antibiotic resistance is indeed a global concern. It is of significant concern especially in the low-middle income countries because of the ease of accessibility, affordability, and absence of regulations pertaining to the dispensing of non-prescription antibiotics. This study aims to estimate the frequency and factors associated with the self-medication of antibiotics found among the practicing nurses.
We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan from July 2016 to August 2016.
Of the 48 recruited nurses, 60.4% (29/48) were practicing self-medication of antibiotics. There were slightly more male nurses (17/29) than their female counterparts. The most frequently used antibiotic was Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid, which was reported by 72.4% (21/29) of the nurses. The most prominent factor urging the nurses for practicing self-medication of antibiotics was their perceived knowledge of antibiotics, as was the case with 72.4% (21/29) of the nurses. Fever (79.3%) and sore throat (65.5%) were the two most frequent health problems that prompted the nurses to practice antibiotics self-medication. An earlier experience of the use of antibiotics was reported by 51.7% (15/29) of the nurses. Only 20.7% (6/29) of the nurses completed the entire antibiotic course. The adverse effects of antibiotics were encountered by 41.4% (12/29) of the nurses, which included diarrhoea, nausea, and vomiting.
The self-medication of antibiotics is a frequent practice found among the practicing nurses in Karachi. It is a pressing concern and needs considerable attention from the healthcare authorities.