Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSI University, 1 Jalan Menara Gading, Cheras, 56000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,
Int J Clin Pharm. 2014 Jun;36(3):564-9. doi: 10.1007/s11096-014-9937-6. Epub 2014 Apr 4.
In Malaysia, antibacterial agents are among the most utilized drugs. There has been an increase in their use in recent years, contributing to an increase of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
This study explores the pattern of antibiotic use and practices in a Malaysian community and identifies the variables associated with a likelihood of non-compliance with a course of antibiotic treatment.
The study was conducted in Cheras, a community located to the south-east of Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 250 individuals, using an interviewer-administered questionnaire in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Frequency of antibiotic use, sources of antibiotics, use of antibiotics without prescription, discontinuation of antibiotic treatment, antibiotic resistance awareness, handling of unused antibiotics, and association between respondents characteristics and compliance with a course of antibiotic treatment.
Approximately 36 % of the participants (n = 91) had taken antibiotics in the year of the study. The majority (66.8 %) obtained antibiotics from clinics. Almost 80 % of the participants had never obtained antibiotics without a doctor's prescription. Nearly 55 % discontinued the course of antibiotics once symptoms disappeared. The most common method of disposing leftover antibiotics was throwing them into the household rubbish bin (78.8 %). Only 6.4 % of participants returned leftover antibiotics to the pharmacist or doctor. Univariate analysis revealed that male gender (p = 0.04), lack of knowledge of antibiotic functions (p < 0.0001), and lack of awareness of antibiotic resistance (p < 0.0001) were all significantly associated with a greater likelihood of non-compliance with a full course of prescribed antibiotic treatment.
Most individuals in the Malaysian community obtained antibiotics through prescription. Non-completion of a course of antibiotic treatment and improper disposal of unused antibiotics need to be addressed to prevent AMR. Male gender, lack of knowledge and awareness of antibiotics and resistance were significantly associated with a greater likelihood of non-compliance with a full course of prescribed antibiotic treatment. Therefore, patient education and counselling about antibiotics and antibacterial resistance is very important to enhance compliance to antibiotic therapy.
在马来西亚，抗菌药物是使用最多的药物之一。近年来，抗菌药物的使用量有所增加，导致抗菌药物耐药性（AMR）增加。
本研究旨在探讨马来西亚社区中抗生素的使用模式和实践情况，并确定与不遵守抗生素治疗疗程相关的变量。
该研究在马来西亚首都吉隆坡东南部的Cheras 社区进行。
采用问卷调查的方式，对 250 名在马来西亚吉隆坡 Cheras 社区的居民进行横断面调查。
抗生素使用频率、抗生素来源、无处方使用抗生素、抗生素治疗中断、抗生素耐药意识、未使用抗生素的处理方式，以及受访者特征与遵守抗生素治疗疗程之间的关系。
在研究年度，约 36%（n=91）的参与者曾服用过抗生素。大多数（66.8%）参与者从诊所获得抗生素。近 80%的参与者从未未经医生处方获得过抗生素。近 55%的参与者一旦症状消失就停止了抗生素治疗。处理剩余抗生素最常见的方法是将其扔进家庭垃圾桶（78.8%）。只有 6.4%的参与者将剩余抗生素退还给药剂师或医生。单因素分析显示，男性（p=0.04）、缺乏抗生素作用的知识（p<0.0001）和对抗生素耐药性的认识不足（p<0.0001）均与不遵守全疗程处方抗生素治疗的可能性增加显著相关。
马来西亚社区的大多数人通过处方获得抗生素。需要解决不完成抗生素疗程和不正确处理未使用抗生素的问题，以防止 AMR。男性、缺乏对抗生素和耐药性的知识和认识与不遵守全疗程处方抗生素治疗的可能性显著相关。因此，对患者进行关于抗生素和抗菌耐药性的教育和咨询对于提高抗生素治疗的依从性非常重要。
