Self-medication with antibiotics among non-academic staff members of a Sri Lankan state university

Abstract

Introduction: Studies have shown that the public knowledge on antibiotics is poor although antibiotic self-medication is common. This study aimed to determine the knowledge and utilization patterns with regard to self-medication with antibiotics among non-academic staff members of a Sri Lankan University. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study, among non-academic staff members of a selected state university in Western Province of Sri Lanka. Consecutive sampling was used and data were obtained using a self-administered questionnaire and analysed using SPSS, version-22. Results: There were 321 participants (response rate - 80%); There were 61.5% of females; mean age was 36.8±8.8 years. Of the participants 40.2% self-medicated with antibiotics at least once during the past 12 months. Out of them 73.6% used amoxicillin. Commonest disease treated was common cold (68.2%). The commonest reason for self-medication was that they had been prescribed with the same medicines for similar symptoms in the past (78.2%). Of the participants who self-medicated 89.9% had got them from a community pharmacy. Antibiotics were stopped by 87.6% when their symptoms disappeared and 64% kept the leftover antibiotics at home for future usage. Majority of the respondents, 206/321 (64.17%) showed a low level of knowledge, while 105/321 (32.71%) showed a moderate level of knowledge while only 10/321 (3.12%) showed a high level of knowledge. The median knowledge score was 58 (Interquartile range, IQR: 42 - 67) meaning that the overall knowledge of the participants was inadequate. Conclusions: More than one-third of the non-academic staff members in the selected university is practicing self-medication with antibiotics. Majority had a poor level of knowledge and practices on antibiotics and their usage.