Self‐prescribing of antibiotics by patients seeking care in Indian emergency departments
Abstract Study objective Antibiotic resistance is a global health threat. India has one of the highest rates of antibiotic use in the world. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of self‐prescribed antibiotic use of patients presenting with febrile and infectious disease‐related...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2021-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.12432 |
| _version_ | 1818937029173444608 |
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| author | Janice Blanchard Madhumathi Solaipandian Elina Bevin John Moin Pandith Binu Jeo Sherin Saji Anil Kumar Larissa May Kevin Davey Katherine Douglass Jeffrey Smith |
| author_facet | Janice Blanchard Madhumathi Solaipandian Elina Bevin John Moin Pandith Binu Jeo Sherin Saji Anil Kumar Larissa May Kevin Davey Katherine Douglass Jeffrey Smith |
| author_sort | Janice Blanchard |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Study objective Antibiotic resistance is a global health threat. India has one of the highest rates of antibiotic use in the world. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of self‐prescribed antibiotic use of patients presenting with febrile and infectious disease‐related complaints to Indian emergency departments. Methods This was a prospective observational study conducted at 6 Indian emergency departments (EDs) between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019. Adult patients who presented with a chief complaint of febrile illness or infectious disease complaints were included. Our principal outcomes of interest were self‐prescribed use of antibiotics within the prior 6 months or for the presenting complaint. We queried respondents about source of antibiotics as well as about demographic characteristics that influenced use. Results A total of 1421 patients were enrolled. Sixty percent (n = 856) of respondents reported using antibiotics in the prior 6 months or for their current complaint. Those who reported self‐prescribing antibiotics either in the past or currently had at least some college education (P < 0.001), tended to use the pharmacy (P < 0.001) or the ED (P = 0.001) for their care when sick, and were more likely to have some comorbid conditions (P = 0.014) as compared to the group that did not self‐prescribe antibiotics. The most common reason respondents reported self‐prescribing antibiotics was because they did not want to wait to see their doctor (n = 278, 33%). Thirty‐five percent of patients who were self‐prescribed antibiotics before presentation did not receive and were not prescribed antibiotics in the ED, at discharge, or both. Conclusions Self‐prescribing of antibiotics occurs commonly in India. This use increases the risk for resistance due to inappropriate or unnecessary use. Promotion of antibiotic stewardship is needed to curtail such use. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T05:45:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-681879f6428b4f2ba7a4012ea596eea3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2688-1152 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T05:45:27Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-681879f6428b4f2ba7a4012ea596eea32022-12-21T19:51:18ZengWileyJournal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open2688-11522021-04-0122n/an/a10.1002/emp2.12432Self‐prescribing of antibiotics by patients seeking care in Indian emergency departmentsJanice Blanchard0Madhumathi Solaipandian1Elina Bevin John2Moin Pandith3Binu Jeo4Sherin Saji5Anil Kumar6Larissa May7Kevin Davey8Katherine Douglass9Jeffrey Smith10Department of Emergency Medicine George Washington University Washington District of Columbia USAMeenakshi Mission Hospital Madurai IndiaBR Life SUT Hospital Pattom Trivandrum Kerala IndiaMax Super Specialty Hospital Patparganj, Max Delhi IndiaBaby Memorial Hospital Calicut Kerala IndiaMGM Muthood Medical Centre Hospital Kozhencherry Pathanamthitta IndiaMax Superspecialty Hospital Delhi IndiaDepartment of Emergency Medicine University of California Davis Sacramento California USADepartment of Emergency Medicine George Washington University Washington District of Columbia USADepartment of Emergency Medicine George Washington University Washington District of Columbia USADepartment of Emergency Medicine George Washington University Washington District of Columbia USAAbstract Study objective Antibiotic resistance is a global health threat. India has one of the highest rates of antibiotic use in the world. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of self‐prescribed antibiotic use of patients presenting with febrile and infectious disease‐related complaints to Indian emergency departments. Methods This was a prospective observational study conducted at 6 Indian emergency departments (EDs) between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019. Adult patients who presented with a chief complaint of febrile illness or infectious disease complaints were included. Our principal outcomes of interest were self‐prescribed use of antibiotics within the prior 6 months or for the presenting complaint. We queried respondents about source of antibiotics as well as about demographic characteristics that influenced use. Results A total of 1421 patients were enrolled. Sixty percent (n = 856) of respondents reported using antibiotics in the prior 6 months or for their current complaint. Those who reported self‐prescribing antibiotics either in the past or currently had at least some college education (P < 0.001), tended to use the pharmacy (P < 0.001) or the ED (P = 0.001) for their care when sick, and were more likely to have some comorbid conditions (P = 0.014) as compared to the group that did not self‐prescribe antibiotics. The most common reason respondents reported self‐prescribing antibiotics was because they did not want to wait to see their doctor (n = 278, 33%). Thirty‐five percent of patients who were self‐prescribed antibiotics before presentation did not receive and were not prescribed antibiotics in the ED, at discharge, or both. Conclusions Self‐prescribing of antibiotics occurs commonly in India. This use increases the risk for resistance due to inappropriate or unnecessary use. Promotion of antibiotic stewardship is needed to curtail such use.https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.12432antibioticsemergency departmentIndiaself‐prescribingstewardship |
| spellingShingle | Janice Blanchard Madhumathi Solaipandian Elina Bevin John Moin Pandith Binu Jeo Sherin Saji Anil Kumar Larissa May Kevin Davey Katherine Douglass Jeffrey Smith Self‐prescribing of antibiotics by patients seeking care in Indian emergency departments Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open antibiotics emergency department India self‐prescribing stewardship |
| title | Self‐prescribing of antibiotics by patients seeking care in Indian emergency departments |
| title_full | Self‐prescribing of antibiotics by patients seeking care in Indian emergency departments |
| title_fullStr | Self‐prescribing of antibiotics by patients seeking care in Indian emergency departments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Self‐prescribing of antibiotics by patients seeking care in Indian emergency departments |
| title_short | Self‐prescribing of antibiotics by patients seeking care in Indian emergency departments |
| title_sort | self prescribing of antibiotics by patients seeking care in indian emergency departments |
| topic | antibiotics emergency department India self‐prescribing stewardship |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.12432 |
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