title: How much do patients in Blantyre, Malawi know about antibiotics and other prescription only medicines?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This qualitative and quantitative exploratory study was conducted to assess patients'/customers' knowledge, beliefs and practices about antibiotics and other prescription only medication (POM) in 10 community pharmacies in Blantyre, Malawi.
  
  
  METHODS
  5 out of 10 pharmacies were selected by simple random sampling and 54 participants attending the selected pharmacies were interviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The major antibiotic drugs frequently requested without a doctor's prescription were Bactrim (Cotrimoxazole) and amoxicillin. Knowledge of these medicines was attributed to the patients' previous medical conditions and doctor's prescription. However this knowledge does not extend to understanding of proper therapeutic indications and dosage regimens for antibiotic therapy. The majority (30 out of 54 participants) did not know about the importance of completing a prescribed course of antibiotics. All 54 participants believed in the efficacy of antibiotics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Study participants had wide range of knowledge about antibiotics and other POM from hospital, but the majority had limited knowledge regarding clinical indications and correct dosage schedules.
authors: University of Malawi, College of Medicine Dept of Pharmacy.
authors: E K
authors: EK
authors: Foster
authors: University of Malawi, College of Medicine Dept of Mental Health & University of Cape Town, Dept of Psychology.
authors: C R
authors: CR
authors: Bandawe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008295:Malawi; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010594:Pharmacies; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D000658:Amoxicillin; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination