title: Self-medication with antimicrobial drugs in Europe.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands. l.grigoryan@med.umcg.nl
authors.forename: Larissa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grigoryan
authors.forename: Flora M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Haaijer-Ruskamp
authors.forename: Johannes G M
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Burgerhof
authors.forename: Reli
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mechtler
authors.forename: Reginald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Deschepper
authors.forename: Arjana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tambic-Andrasevic
authors.forename: Retnosari
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andrajati
authors.forename: Dominique L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Monnet
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cunney
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Matteo
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Edelsein
authors.forename: Rolanda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valinteliene
authors.forename: Alaa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alkerwi
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scicluna
authors.forename: Powel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grzesiowski
authors.forename: Ana-Claudia
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Bara
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tesar
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cizman
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: Cecilia Stålsby
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lundborg
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Birkin
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents