title: Antibiotic use practices of pharmacy staff: a cross-sectional study in Saint Petersburg, the Russian Federation.
abstract: Non-prescription access to antimicrobials is common, and self-prescribing is increasingly popular in Russian society. The aim of this study was to assess the attitudes of community pharmacists regarding antibiotic use and self-medication.
  
  
  
  We conducted a cross-sectional study from September-December 2015 of community pharmacists in the Saint-Petersburg and Leningrad region, Russia. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess antibiotic use and self-medication practices. The data were analysed using logistic regression and Pearson chi-squared tests.
  
  
  
  Of the 316 pharmacists (77.07%) who completed the questionnaire, 230 (72.8%) self-medicated with antibiotics. Antibiotics were mostly used to self-treat upper (53.3%) and lower respiratory tract infections (19.3%), relying on their own knowledge (81.5%), previous treatment experience (49%) and patients' prescriptions (17%). The most commonly used antibiotics were macrolides (33.2%). Characteristics such as age, education and experience were related to antibiotic use and self-medication.
  
  
  
  The study confirmed that self-prescription of antibiotics is a common practice amongst pharmacists in Saint Petersburg and also identified personal and professional characteristics of pharmacists strongly associated with self-medication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Heyrovskeho 1203, Hradec Kralove, 50005, Czech Republic. belkinat@faf.cuni.cz.
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Belkina
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Heyrovskeho 1203, Hradec Kralove, 50005, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Duvanova
authors.affiliation: Department of Technology of Dosage Forms, Saint Petersburg State Chemical - Pharmaceutical Academy, Prof. Popova Str. 14, Saint Petersburg, 197376, Russian Federation.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karbovskaja
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Heyrovskeho 1203, Hradec Kralove, 50005, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jurjen Duintjer
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Tebbens
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Heyrovskeho 1203, Hradec Kralove, 50005, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jiri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vlcek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D012426:Russia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012651:Self Medication / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D057566:Self Report; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Antibiotic use; Antimicrobial resistance; Pharmacists