Non-Compliance of Patients with Antibiotic Prescriptions

• Taher I. Shailabi

  Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty Of Pharmacy, Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Libya

  Author

• Nisreen Saed Majeed

  Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty Of Pharmacy, Omar Al Mukhtar University, Libya

  Author

• Elham O. Borwis

  Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty Of Medicine, Benghazi University, Libya

  Author

• Nagat H. Bubtina

  Conservative Dentistry Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Benghazi University, Benghazi, Libya

  Author

Non-compliance with antibiotic treatment instructions is dangerous in complete cure, increasing treatment costs and increasing the number of resistant microbes. This study aimed to assess adherence to antibiotic treatment and its associated factors in patients after visiting Libyan community pharmacies. A cross-sectional study was conducted on patients who visited community pharmacies in Libya. Several reasons for non-compliance have been reported but the main ones were it is not necessary to continue taking prescribed medications once feeling better (27.3%), polypharmacy (19.6%), fear of medication adverse effects (18.7%) and the duration of antibiotic treatment also increased the risk of non-compliance (15%). Appropriate prescribing strategies to increase the public awareness, knowledge, and attitude to ensure appropriate antimicrobial use and minimize the problem of non-compliance.

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