RESUMO
Worldwide data indicate that antibiotics are frequently used indiscriminately. The present study used a questionnaire in an attempt to quantify and qualify outpatient antibiotic consumption habits, including when the drug was used, who recommended it, and to what extent treatment was completed, and to question householders on the presence of antibiotics in their homes, including leftovers from previous treatments. The questionnaire was distributed to residents of 6000 households that made up a representative sample of the Brazilian population and was completed by designated respondents from 4932 residences (82.2%) with or without field interviewer supervision. Each household reported an average of 3.7 treatments in the previous year, with amoxicillin the most frequently used antibiotic in this survey (18%), regardless of socioeconomic class. Most treatments were recommended through medical prescription, and this source of antibiotic was associated with the highest rate of completed therapy (80.4%). Azithromycin and ciprofloxacin produced the highest rates of completed treatment and the lowest rates of antibiotic leftovers. Storing antibiotics at home increases the cost of each treatment event, reduces efficacy, and may encourage the emergence of resistant organisms in the community. Educational efforts must be redoubled to promote the rational and effective use of drugs, especially antibiotics.
Assuntos
Antibacterianos/uso terapêutico , Cooperação do Paciente , Automedicação , Adulto , Idoso , Brasil , Criança , Uso de Medicamentos , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Fatores SocioeconômicosRESUMO
Seventy pharmacies located in Sao Paulo were randomly selected and visited. Seven researchers posed as ordinary clients presenting with a standardized complaint of symptoms according to a scenario previously defined. The client asked for medicines to relieve his/her pain or discomfort. After the seller's suggestion the client asked for 2 drugs randomly selected from a drug list containing 30 trademarked drugs commonly prescribed to arthritis patients. These drugs should be available only on prescription. In only 12.8% of the pharmacies did the seller initially suggest the client see a physician. The sellers "prescribed' non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), vitamins, analgesics (AN) and corticosteroids (CO) in respectively 42.8, 20.0, 14.3 and 5.7% of the visits. From the drug list, the client secured 67.7% of the NSAID, 65.0% of the CO and 20.0% of the sedatives without presenting a prescription. Pharmacy sellers usually comply with the clients demands. Future studies should aim at the evaluation of interventions to reduce the availability of the over-the-counter drugs for arthritis.
Assuntos
Analgésicos/provisão & distribuição , Anti-Inflamatórios não Esteroides/provisão & distribuição , Anti-Inflamatórios/provisão & distribuição , Artrite/tratamento farmacológico , Países em Desenvolvimento , Mau Uso de Serviços de Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Medicamentos sem Prescrição/provisão & distribuição , Saúde da População Urbana , Adulto , Analgésicos/uso terapêutico , Anti-Inflamatórios/uso terapêutico , Anti-Inflamatórios não Esteroides/uso terapêutico , Artrite/epidemiologia , Brasil/epidemiologia , Revisão de Uso de Medicamentos , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Farmácias/estatística & dados numéricos , EsteroidesRESUMO
The purpose of this study was to develop some of the focus group discussion (FGD) potentialities in order to provide information on patients' understanding of the origin and management of their medical condition. Fifteen ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients (mean age = 32.6 yr and mean disease duration = 13.4 yr) were selected from the Rheumatic Disease Unit (RDU) out-patient clinic at Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo, Brazil, to take part in this study. The FGD constituted two sessions, with eight patients in the first and seven in the second. The moderator raised specific questions about the patients' understanding of the pathology, the treatment and how the illness affected their quality of life. It was observed through the FGD that patients believed that their illness onset was due to some physical trauma. Clinicians should inquire about this tissue to be sure that their individual patients do not have this false belief. Also, it is necessary to improve the methods for early diagnosis and to develop further studies to determine and assess the parameters of disease activity. And finally, FGD may be of use in establishing a self-help group for individuals with chronic diseases, such as AS. In conclusion the FGD is an available technique that should be used more frequently in medicine to gather global qualitative data.