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Determinants of self-medication with antibiotics in Europe: the impact of beliefs, country wealth and the healthcare system
- Source :
- Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 61(5), 1172-1179. Oxford University Press
- Publication Year :
- 2008
- Publisher :
- Oxford University Press (OUP), 2008.
-
Abstract
- Background: Self-medication with antibiotics occurs among the population in Europe, particularly in southern and eastern countries. We studied the impact of predisposing factors (e.g. attitudes and knowledge concerning antibiotic use and self-medication) and enabling factors (country wealth and healthcare system factors) on self-medication with antibiotics in Europe.Methods: In this follow-up of a previous European survey, we interviewed a subsample of 1101 respondents. A multilevel analysis with two levels (respondent and country) was performed. Variables that were statistically significantly different between users and non-users of self-medication were considered for inclusion into the multilevel regression analyses.Results: Predisposing factors included individual-level characteristics. High perceived appropriateness of self-medication with antibiotics for bronchitis and an attitude favouring antibiotic use for minor ailments were related to a higher likelihood of self-medication. Enabling factors included individual and country data. At the individual level, perceived availability of antibiotics without a prescription was related to increased probability of self-medication. At the country level, higher gross domestic product (wealth) and exact dispensation of prescribed tablet quantities by pharmacies were independently associated with lower likelihood of self-medication.Conclusions: Interventions aimed at preventing self-medication should include public education, enforcing regulations regarding the sale of antibiotics, and implementing laws for dispensing exact prescribed tablet quantities in pharmacies. With the included determinants, we explained almost all the variance at the country level, but not at the individual level. Future studies to increase our understanding of determinants of self-medication with antibiotics should focus on individual-level factors such as doctor-patient relationships and patient satisfaction.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Cross-Cultural Comparison
Male
Microbiology (medical)
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Pediatrics
medicine.medical_specialty
epidemiological factors
PRESCRIPTION
Economics
Population
Psychological intervention
antibacterial agents
Self Medication
Environmental health
Humans
Medicine
bacterial
KNOWLEDGE
Pharmacology (medical)
ATTITUDES
Medical prescription
education
Aged
Antibacterial agent
SOUTH
RISK
Pharmacology
education.field_of_study
drug resistance
business.industry
Public health
Multilevel model
UPPER RESPIRATORY-INFECTIONS
Middle Aged
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Europe
COMMUNITY
Infectious Diseases
Health Care Surveys
Respondent
Female
ANTIMICROBIAL DRUGS
business
Delivery of Health Care
Self-medication
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14602091 and 03057453
- Volume :
- 61
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....1664514b4d1104da9f8610e711fc994f