Irrational Use of Antibiotics among University Students

Intrduction Irrational prescribing has a number of adverse consequences for the patient as well as the community. The important ones are delay , inability in affording relief or cure of disease. More adverse drug effects are prolongation of hospitalization, loss of mandays, increased morbidity and mortality. Moreover emergence of microbial resistance, financial loss to the patient, community, loss of patient's confidence in the doctor, lowering of health standards of patients, community and perpetuation of public health problem. Antimicrobial resistance is a rapidly increasing world wide problem. Irrational use of antibiotics is the major determinant in the development of resistance. Material and Method This study was done by questionnaire comprising 15 questions were used. The questions asked for determining the level ofknowledge were true or false and yes or no questions. students (excluding those from the Faculty of Medicine) of age University, We studied 361 (Saudi Arabian) students male and female of The sampling group was divided into five groups including five faculties these are Engineering, Sciences, Education, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy The observations for each question are tabulated. Statistical comparison was done using SPSS (Anova test) was used P values less than 0.05 were considered significant. Results The aim of antibiotic use for common cold was 46.16%) (Pless than0.05) and, to decrease fever was (53.64%) (Pless than0.05)in all Groups. In all groups the respondents started antibiotics by themselves when they were ill 33.24% (Pless than0.05) although (61.77%) (Pless than0.05)of all groups agree that antibiotics should be started with doctors? prescription. During their last infection of the respondents used the same antibiotic as previously prescribed by their doctors (50.42%) (Pless than0.05). Conclusions. In the present study results showed that self-medication and the irrational use of antibiotics were common among university student in Hail. The rational use of ntibiotics may be favored by improving knowledge about these drugs. Such an idea should be made clear to the public, where many diseases would become very difficult to treat with the currently known antibiotics. . National education programs about the danger of irrational antibiotic use and restriction of antibiotic without prescription.