Level of patient information on antibiotic use

Authors

  • Fernando de Sá Del Fiol Sorocaba University; Pharmaceutical Sciences Course
  • Silvio Barberato-Filho Sorocaba University; Pharmaceutical Sciences Course
  • Luciane Cruz Lopes Sorocaba University; Pharmaceutical Sciences Course
  • Maria Inês de Toledo Sorocaba University; Pharmaceutical Sciences Course

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S1984-82502010000300006

Keywords:

Antimicrobial therapeutic, Antimicrobial resistance, Antibiotics^i1^srational

Abstract

Establishing an effective antimicrobial therapeutic requires choosing the appropriate antibiotic and ensuring compliance with times and doses prescribed. Problems concerning early abandonment and unfinished prescriptions due to lack of information, as well as more resistant microorganisms, have been identified as the major factors responsible for therapeutic failure in bacterial infections. This study aimed to determine the level of information among antibiotic users undergoing treatment with these drugs, and habits related to other therapies. A survey was applied to 403 users and identified great difficulties in understanding prescriptions, especially among users with no formal schooling who understood only 21 to 28% of the prescribed instructions. This same group reported having received the lowest amount of information during the consultation, with only 28.6% receiving verbal information from the prescriber on the length of course with the drug. Additionally, 21% of this group reported a tendency to use the antibiotic until symptoms resolved, without heeding the length of course prescribed. Guidance on antibiotics use should be an integral and fundamental part of effective therapy.

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Published

2010-09-01

Issue

Section

Original Papers

How to Cite

Level of patient information on antibiotic use . (2010). Brazilian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 46(3), 437-444. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1984-82502010000300006