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Non-adherence to antibiotic therapy in patients visiting community pharmacies

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An Erratum to this article was published on 01 December 2013

Abstract

Background Patient non-adherence to antibiotic therapy may lead to therapeutic failure, re-infection, and bacterial resistance. Assessing the factors associated with this problem is important for promoting rational use of antibiotics. Objective This study aimed to measure prevalence and reasons for non-adherence to antibiotic treatment and to identify associated factors. Method Patients were recruited for the study in community pharmacies in Lisbon, Portugal, from February to April, 2009. Data from prescriptions for oral antibiotics were collected for adult subjects. Adherence to treatment was assessed with a modified Portuguese version of the Morisky scale. Factors associated with non-adherence were identified through bivariate analysis and logistic regression models. Results A total of 243 patients were included in the study. They had a mean age 46.5 ± 16.6 years and 74.5 % of the sample was female. The prevalence of non-adherence was 57.7 % and was related to delays and failures in taking the prescribed medicine. Increasing age (OR 0.97), difficulty in buying the antibiotic (OR 2.34), duration of treatment (OR 1.28), difficulty with ingestion (OR 3.08), and satisfaction with the information given by physician (OR 0.33) were identified as independent factors associated with non-adherence. Conclusion Non-adherence to antibiotics is common in the community setting. Factors related to the antibiotic, the patient, and the patient-physician relationship should be addressed to promote adherence. Pharmacists should provide information to patients about correct use of antibiotics and address barriers to adherence.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks are due to the participants and to the pharmacies that collaborated in the study, to the interviewers Inês Simões, Verónica Delgado and Maria Freitas, to Luís Caldeira and Fernando Fernandez-Llimos for additional comments on the article and to Yonah Yaphe for editorial assistance.

Funding

The study received a grant from the Merck, Sharp & Dohme Foundation (Portugal), with no influence on study design or data analysis.

Conflicts of interest

None to declare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Preventive Medicine, University of Lisbon, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz - Ed. Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal

    Milene Fernandes, Andreia Leite, Maria Basto, Miguel Araújo Nobre, Rui Fernandes, Paulo Nogueira & Paulo Jorge

  2. Medical Department, Rottapharm|Madaus, Lisbon, Portugal

    Maria Basto

  3. Internal Medicine Department, Centro Hospitalar do Barlavento Algarvio, Portimão, Portugal

    Nuno Vieira

  4. General-Directorate of Health (DGS), Lisbon, Portugal

    Paulo Nogueira

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  1. Milene Fernandes
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  2. Andreia Leite
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  3. Maria Basto
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  4. Miguel Araújo Nobre
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  5. Nuno Vieira
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  6. Rui Fernandes
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  7. Paulo Nogueira
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  8. Paulo Jorge
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Correspondence to Milene Fernandes.

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Fernandes, M., Leite, A., Basto, M. et al. Non-adherence to antibiotic therapy in patients visiting community pharmacies. Int J Clin Pharm 36, 86–91 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-013-9850-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-013-9850-4

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