Norris Pauline, Churchward Marianna, Fa'alau Fuafiva, Va'ai Cecilia
School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
J Prim Health Care. 2009 Mar;1(1):30-5.
Use of antibiotics is high in Samoa and this may affect the expectations and patterns of antibiotic use of Samoans in New Zealand.
This study examined the understanding and reported use of antibiotics amongst Samoans in New Zealand.
In-depth interviews were held with 13 Samoans in New Zealand. These interviews were analysed and used to develop a questionnaire that was administered to 112 Samoans attending health care facilities in New Zealand.
Many participants had little understanding of antibiotics. Less than 2% identified the correct purpose for antibiotics, and 66% thought they were used to relieve pain. Respondents regarded a wide range of medicines (including some which they regularly took) as antibiotics. They frequently attributed colds and flu to environmental conditions (96%), and regarded antibiotics as a useful treatment for them (81%). They reported stopping taking antibiotics before finishing the course. Very few (8%) were aware of antibiotic resistance.
Health care practitioners cannot assume that patients share a Western scientific understanding of which illnesses are caused by microbes, or what antibiotics are or do. People may have significant confusion about the medicines they take. Samoans, whether they are born in New Zealand or not, may hold traditional Samoan views about health and illness.
萨摩亚抗生素的使用频率很高，这可能会影响在新西兰的萨摩亚人对抗生素的使用期望和模式。
本研究调查了新西兰萨摩亚人对抗生素的理解以及报告的抗生素使用情况。
对13名在新西兰的萨摩亚人进行了深入访谈。对这些访谈进行分析，并据此编制了一份问卷，该问卷被发放给112名前往新西兰医疗保健机构就诊的萨摩亚人。
许多参与者对抗生素了解甚少。不到2%的人能指出抗生素的正确用途，66%的人认为抗生素用于缓解疼痛。受访者将多种药物（包括一些他们经常服用的药物）视为抗生素。他们经常将感冒和流感归因于环境因素（96%），并认为抗生素对其有很好的治疗效果（81%）。他们报告在疗程结束前就停止服用抗生素。很少有人（8%）了解抗生素耐药性。
医疗保健从业者不能假定患者对哪些疾病由微生物引起、抗生素是什么或有什么作用有着西方科学的理解。人们可能对自己服用的药物存在很大困惑。无论是否出生在新西兰，萨摩亚人可能持有传统的萨摩亚健康与疾病观念。
