Knowledge and Practices of Patients Regarding Antibiotics Used For Dental Problems

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this survey was to assess the level of common knowledge and practices concerning usage of antibiotics among dental patients.
METHODOLOGY: A descriptive questionnaire-based survey was done consisting of fifteen questions at the Institute of Dentistry, CMH Lahore Medical College.
RESULTS: Sample included 500 dental patients, 237 males (48.2%) and 255 females (51.8%). Participants were divided into various groups; less educated (up to matriculation level), more educated (above matriculation level), low-income (<25000 PKR monthly) and high-income (25000 PKR and above monthly).
Majority (61.8%) of the sample thought antibiotics have antiviral effects. Three-fourth (75.5%) of the sample thought antibiotics have an analgesic effect while (67.3%) thought antibiotics should be prescribed post-extraction.
Thirty-eight percent thought that antibiotics should be taken before any dental work while more than half (54.7%) knew that antibiotics have side effects. Majority (74.5%) knew that unnecessary use of antibiotics make them ineffective leading to antibiotic resistance. In the sample, (90.7%) believed it was important to complete the course of antibiotics prescribed by dentist but (43%) used to discontinue antibiotics on feeling better. Twenty six percent of the sample considered homeopathic medicine more effective than antibiotics for treatment of infections.
Self-medication was reported by (42.3%) and (41.1%) used antibiotics prescribed by pharmacists at some point in their lives.
CONCLUSION: Patients’ knowledge about antibiotics was inadequate, antibiotics misuse was widespread and high selfmedication rates were reported.
KEYWORDS: Antibiotics, Self-medication, Antimicrobial resistance, Patient, Knowledge, Dentistry.
HOW TO CITE: Sohail A, Yaseen A, Qazi SR. Knowledge and practices of patients regarding antibiotics used for dental problems. J Pak Dent Assoc 2020;29(2):71-76.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.25301/JPDA.292.71
Received: 29 June 2019, Accepted: 28 February 2020

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