Sales of antibiotics without a prescription in pharmacies, 2017 and 2021, China.
Bull World Health Organ
; 101(5): 317-325A, 2023 May 01.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2313592
ABSTRACT
Objective:
To measure sales of antibiotics without a prescription in pharmacies in China in 2017 and 2021, before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and determine the factors associated with such sales.Methods:
We conducted cross-sectional surveys using the simulated patient method in retail pharmacies in 13 provinces in eastern, central and western China in 2017 and 2021. At the pharmacies, the simulated patients (trained medical students) reported that they had mild respiratory tract symptoms and asked for treatment, using a three-stage process (i) request some treatment; (ii) request antibiotics; (iii) request specific antibiotics. We used multivariable logistic regression analysis to determine factors associated with sale of antibiotics without a prescription.Findings:
Of the pharmacies visited in 2017, 83.6% (925/1106) sold antibiotics without a prescription; this figure was 78.3% (853/1090) in 2021 (P-value 0.002). After excluding pharmacies prohibited from selling antibiotics because of COVID-19, this difference was not significant (83.6% versus 80.9%; 853/1054; P-value 0.11). Factors significantly associated with selling antibiotics without a prescription in both 2017 and 2019 were location in central and western China compared with eastern China; being in a township or village compared with in a city; and presence of a counter where antibiotics were dispensed.Conclusion:
Although laws became stricter between 2017 and 2021, antibiotic sales without a prescription were still common in pharmacies across China. Existing regulations need to be more strictly enforced, and pharmacy staff and the public should be made more aware of the risks of antibiotic misuse and dangers of antimicrobial resistance.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pharmacies
/
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
Bull World Health Organ
Year:
2023
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
BLT.22.289435
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