title: Rationality of Antimicrobial Prescriptions in Community Pharmacy Users.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although there is a conflict between the treatment benefits for a single individual and society, restrictions on antibiotic use are needed to reduce the prevalence of resistance to these drugs, which is the main result of irrational use. Brazil, cataloged as a pharmemerging market, has implemented restrictive measures for the consumption of antibiotics. The objective of this study was to investigate the quality of antimicrobial prescriptions and user knowledge of their treatment with these drugs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A two-stage cross-sectional, combined and stratified survey of pharmacy users holding an antimicrobial prescription was conducted in the community between May and November 2014. A pharmacist analyzed each prescription for legibility and completeness, and applied a structured questionnaire to the users or their caregivers on their knowledge regarding treatment and user sociodemographic data. An estimated 29.3% of prescriptions had one or more illegible items, 91.3% had one or more missing items, and 29.0% had both illegible and missing items. Dosing schedule and patient identification were the most commonly unreadable items in prescriptions, 18.81% and 12.14%, respectively. The lack of complete patient identification occurred in 90.53% of the prescriptions. It is estimated that 40.3% of users have used antimicrobials without prescription and that 46.49% did not receive any guidance on the administration of the drug.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the measures taken by health authorities to restrict the misuse of antimicrobials, it was observed that prescribers still do not follow the criteria of current legislation, particularly relating to items needed for completion of the prescription. Moreover, users receive little information about their antimicrobial treatment.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal-RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sara I V C
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal-RN, Brazil; Departamento de Farmácia, Centro de Educação e Saúde, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Cuité-PB, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Diniz
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal-RN, Brazil; Departamento de Farmácia, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal-RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eryvaldo S T
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Egito
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Estatística, Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Terra, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal-RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo R M
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal-RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antonio G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal-RN, Brazil; Departamento de Farmácia, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal-RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ivonete B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Araujo
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007880:Legislation, Drug; D008297:Male; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents