Self-medication with antimicrobial drugs in Europe.
We surveyed the populations of 19 European countries to compare the prevalence of antimicrobial drug self-medication in the previous 12 months and intended self-medication and storage and to identify the associated demographic characteristics. By using a multistage sampling design, 1,000-3,000 adults in each country were randomly selected. The prevalence of actual self-medication varied from 1 to 210 per 1,000 and intended self-medication from 73 to 449 per 1,000; both rates were high in eastern and southern Europe and low in northern and western Europe. The most common reasons for self-medication were throat symptoms (e.g., dry, inflamed, red, or sore throat, inflamed tonsils, tonsil pain). The main medication sources were pharmacies and medication leftover from previous prescriptions. Younger age, higher education, and presence of a chronic disease were associated with higher rates of self-medication. Attempts to reduce inappropriate self-medication should target prescribers, pharmacists, and the general public.
Grigoryan
Larissa
L
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands. l.grigoryan@med.umcg.nl
Haaijer-Ruskamp
Flora M
FM
Burgerhof
Johannes G M
JG
Mechtler
Reli
R
Deschepper
Reginald
R
Tambic-Andrasevic
Arjana
A
Andrajati
Retnosari
R
Monnet
Dominique L
DL
Cunney
Robert
R
Di Matteo
Antonella
A
Edelsein
Hana
H
Valinteliene
Rolanda
R
Alkerwi
Alaa
A
Scicluna
Elizabeth
E
Grzesiowski
Powel
P
Bara
Ana-Claudia
AC
Tesar
Thomas
T
Cizman
Milan
M
Campos
Jose
J
Lundborg
Cecilia Stålsby
CS
Birkin
Joan
J
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003625:Data Collection; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012651:Self Medication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents