Antibiotics and the quality indicators for outpatient antibiotic use in Slovakia.

The aims of this study was to compare the data on the consumption of antibiotics in the outpatient care sector for Slovakia from 2019 to 2020 and to calculate quality indicators for outpatient antibiotic use. The data source on the consumption of antibiotics (ATC group J01), is the sales data from the NCZI. The main indicator describing the consumption of antibacterials for systemic use is the number of DDDs per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID). The data released by the European Centre for Disease Protection were used as the source for antibiotic consumption for 2019. The most frequently consumed antibacterials for systemic use in the outpatient care sector in 2020 were other beta-lactam antibacterials (J01D); macrolides, lincosamides and streptogramins (J01); and betalactam antibacterials, penicillins (J01C), with the levels of 3.30 DID, 3.30 DID and 3.27 DID, respectively. Consumption levels of 1.66 DID for tetracyclines (J01A), 1.14 DID for quinolone antibacterials (J01M), 0.41 DID for sulfonamides and trimethoprim (J01E), 0.07 DID for other antibacterials (J01X), and 0.01 DID for other antibiotics (J01B, J01G and J01R combined) can be seen. Overall, antibiotic consumption in the outpatient care sector did significantly change in Slovakia from 2019 to 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Evaluation of adherence to treatment in patients suffering from diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM) is a disease which is becoming pandemic these days. A successful treatment of chronic diabetes mellitus depends on early diagnosis and proper treatment. Just as the role of the doctor in treating the disease is important, so the community pharmacist plays an important role in taking the initiative in motivating patients to adhere to individual treatment regimes. OBJECTIVE: The main aim of the study was to analyze and assess patient adherence to pharmacological or non-pharmacological treatment, including the influence of the community pharmacist on that. METHOD: All necessary data for the assessment were collected by anonymous questionnaire survey methods conducted within 7 months, as well as by personal consulting among pharmacists and patients. The results were assessed according to patients gender and age. RESULTS: 117 respondents got involved in the survey, with 67 (57%) females and 50 (43%) males. The majority were aged 60-74 (48%), 84% suffered from diabetes mellitus type 2. Adherence to non-pharmacological treatment (regime and dietary measures) was 96% in females and 76% in males according to gender, and over 80% in each age category. Adherence to pharmacological treatment was up to 83% in females and 79% in males. According to age, over 70% adhered to pharmacological treatment all the time in each age category (except for 75+), with up to 88% aged 60-74. CONCLUSION: According to the outcomes, we can observe that in our selected sample of patients the majority followed pharmacological or non-pharmacological treatment. The pharmacist also plays an important role in improving adherence to treatment. By providing patients with their expertise and professional knowledge while drug dispensing or individual conselling, the pharmacist can motivate the patient to follow not only pharmacological but also non-pharmacological treatment and thereby increase patient adherence itself to treatment.