Self-medication with oral antibiotics among University students in United Arab Emirates

Al-Kubaisi, Khalid A, De Ste Croix, Mark B ORCID: 0000-0001-9911-4355, Vinson, Don, Sharif, Suleiman I and Abduelkarem, Abduelmula R (2019) Self-medication with oral antibiotics among University students in United Arab Emirates. Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 18 (6). pp. 1331-1337. doi:10.4314/tjpr.v18i6.26

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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of antibiotic use without prescriptions and to identify factors associated with this behavior among university students using oral non-prescription drugs (ONPD). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the students of major universities in UAE. A multistage sampling technique was used in the present study. Results: Out of 2875 students, only 2355 (81.9 %) questionnaire were fully answered and included. Of 2355, more than half (1348; 57.2 %) of the participants reported using ONPD. More than one-third (484, 35.9 %) of 1348 participants used antibiotics without a prescription during the 90 days prior to the present study. Binary logistic regression identified nine statistically significant variables: nationality (OR = 0.471, 95 % CI: 0.326 - 0.681, p < 0.001); cost-influence behavior (OR = 1.716, 95 % CI: 1.175 - 2.508, p < 0.005); belief in ONPD effectiveness (OR = 0.332, 95 % CI: 0.135 - 0.815, p < 0.05); year of study (OR = 0.310, 95 %, CI: 0.141 - 0.681, p < 0.004); medication knowledge (OR = 0.619, 95 % CI: 0.443 - 0.866, p < 0.005); self-care orientation (OR=1.878, 95 % CI: 1.304 - 2.706, p < 0.001); using ONPD helps to save money (OR=1.665, 95 % CI: 1.047-2.649, p<0.04); and urgency of use (OR = 1.644, 95 %, CI: 1.144 - 2.363, p < 0.007); as well as being healthcare students (OR = 1.465, 95 %, CI: 1.012 - 2.120, p < 0. Conclusion: There is a need for educational intervention to improve students' knowledge, attitude, and awareness regarding the risk of using antibiotics without prescriptions.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Antibiotics; Self-medication; Prescription; University students; Awareness
Subjects:	R Medicine > RS Pharmacy and materia medica
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education and Science
Research Priority Areas:	Health, Life Sciences, Sport and Wellbeing
Depositing User:	Susan Turner
Date Deposited:	22 Jul 2019 11:47
Last Modified:	31 Aug 2023 09:08
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/7041

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