title: Knowledge, awareness, and attitudes toward antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance among Saudi population.
abstract: Background Inappropriate use of antibiotics is a public health problem of great concern. Objective To evaluate knowledge of antibiotics, race, gender and age as independent risk factors for self-medication. Setting Residents and population from different regions of Saudi Arabia. Methods We conducted a cross sectional survey study among residents. Data were collected between June 2014 to May, 2015 from 1310 participants and data were recorded anonymously. The questionnaire was randomly distributed by interview of participants and included sociodemographic characteristics, antibiotics knowledge, attitudes and behavior with respect to antibiotics usage. Main outcome measure Population aggregate scores on questions and data were analyzed using univariate logistic regression to evaluate the influence of variables on self-prescription of antibiotics. Results The response rate was 87.7 %. A cumulative 63.6 % of participants reported to have purchased antibiotics without a prescription from pharmacies; 71.1 % reported that they did not finish the antibiotic course as they felt better. The availability of antibiotics without prescription was found to be positively associated with self-medication (OR 0.238, 95 % CI 0.17-0.33). Of those who used prescribed or non-prescribed antibiotics, 44.7 % reported that they kept left-over antibiotics from the incomplete course of treatment for future need. Interestingly, 62 % of respondents who used drugs without prescription agreed with the statement that antibiotics should be access-controlled prescribed by a physician. We also found significant association between storage, knowledge/attitudes and education. Conclusions The overall level of awareness on antibiotics use among residents in Saudi Arabia is low. This mandates public health awareness intervention programs to be implemented on the use of antibiotics.
authors: School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Westville, Durban, 4000, South Africa. elzow001@gmail.com.|Faculty of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia. elzow001@gmail.com.
authors: Mohamed E
authors: ME
authors: El Zowalaty
authors: Department of Social and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, 50005, Prague, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. belkinat@faf.cuni.cz.
authors: Tatiana
authors: T
authors: Belkina
authors: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Al Madina Al Munawarah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors: Saleh A
authors: SA
authors: Bahashwan
authors: Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602, USA.|Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602, USA.
authors: Ahmed E
authors: AE
authors: El Zowalaty
authors: Department of Biophysics and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, 50005, Prague, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.
authors: Jurjen Duintjer
authors: JD
authors: Tebbens
authors: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Al Madina Al Munawarah, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Hassan A
authors: HA
authors: Abdel-Salam
authors: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
authors: Adel I
authors: AI
authors: Khalil
authors: Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Safaa I
authors: SI
authors: Daghriry
authors: Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Mona A
authors: MA
authors: Gahtani
authors: Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Fatimah M
authors: FM
authors: Madkhaly
authors: Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Nahed I
authors: NI
authors: Nohi
authors: Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Rafaa H
authors: RH
authors: Khodari
authors: Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Reem M
authors: RM
authors: Sharahili
authors: Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Khlood A
authors: KA
authors: Dagreery
authors: Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Mayisah
authors: M
authors: Khormi
authors: Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Sarah Abuo
authors: SA
authors: Habibah
authors: Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Bayan A
authors: BA
authors: Medrba
authors: Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Amal A
authors: AA
authors: Gahtani
authors: Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Rasha Y
authors: RY
authors: Hifthi
authors: Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Jameelah M
authors: JM
authors: Zaid
authors: Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Arwa W
authors: AW
authors: Amshan
authors: Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Alqasim A
authors: AA
authors: Alneami
authors: Faculty of Pharmacy, Chapman University, Irvine, CA, 92618, USA.
authors: Ayman
authors: A
authors: Noreddin
authors: Department of Social and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, 50005, Prague, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.
authors: Jiří
authors: J
authors: Vlček
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Antibiotics; Awareness; Inappropriate use; Resistance; Risk factors; Saudi Arabia; Self-medication