Sawair Faleh A, Baqain Zaid H, Abu Karaky Ashraf, Abu Eid Rasha
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
Med Princ Pract. 2009;18(1):21-5. doi: 10.1159/000163041. Epub 2008 Dec 4.
To assess the extent of self-medication with antibiotics (SMA) in a Jordanian population, and to evaluate the sociodemographic factors affecting this behaviour.
Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 477 patients aged 16-65 years attending the Department of Dentistry, University of Jordan Hospital. Socio-demographic data were collected and interviewees were asked about their SMA behaviour during the last 6 months, the reasons and motives for this behaviour, and the source and dose of the antibiotics were noted.
The prevalence rate of SMA in the sample during the 6 months preceding the interview was 40.7% (194/477). Patients aged 36-55 years and those in the middle-class income group were most likely to perform SMA. SMA was mainly for sore throats, common colds and dental infections, and community pharmacies were the major source (104, 53.6% cases). Amoxicillin was the most commonly used antibiotic, and only 73 (37.6%) patients followed the correct dosage guidelines. Previous experience with similar illness and saving time were the most common reasons for SMA. Ninety-four (19.7%) patients admitted that they consulted another physician to obtain antibiotics when their first physician did not prescribe any.
The findings showed that SMA was a frequent practice among Jordanians, signifying the need for an educational campaign on the proper use of antibiotics in this population.
评估约旦人群中抗生素自我药疗（SMA）的程度，并评估影响这种行为的社会人口学因素。
对约旦大学医院牙科就诊的477名16 - 65岁患者进行面对面访谈。收集社会人口学数据，并询问受访者过去6个月内的SMA行为、这种行为的原因和动机，同时记录抗生素的来源和剂量。
在访谈前6个月内，样本中SMA的患病率为40.7%（194/477）。36 - 55岁的患者以及中等收入群体最有可能进行SMA。SMA主要用于治疗喉咙痛、普通感冒和牙科感染，社区药房是主要来源（104例，占53.6%）。阿莫西林是最常用的抗生素，只有73名（37.6%）患者遵循正确的剂量指南。既往类似疾病的经历和节省时间是SMA最常见的原因。94名（19.7%）患者承认，当他们的首位医生未开任何抗生素时，他们会咨询另一位医生以获取抗生素。
研究结果表明，SMA在约旦人当中是一种常见行为，这意味着需要针对该人群开展关于正确使用抗生素的教育活动。
