Document Type : Original Article
Authors
- . Shaik Mohamed Shamsudeen
- . R. Shanmuga Priya 1
- . Govindarajan Sujatha 2
- . J. Muruganandhan 2
- . K. Manikandan 3
1 Periodontia
2 Oral Pathology
3 Public Health Dentistry, Sri Venkateswara Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Antibiotics are considered the most commonly sold drugs in developing countries.
In India, these drugs are very much accessible without a prescription. This irrational and misuse
of antibiotics results not only in the emergence of resistance of bacterial strains but also leads to
adverse reactions.
AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice of
antibiotics usage among dental patients.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study design: This study was a cross‑sectional design; a prevalidated
structured questionnaire comprising 24 questions was used.
SAMPLE SIZE: Six hundred and ten patients visiting a dental hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India,
were included in the study.
RESULTS: The dental patients involved in self‑medication were more than 70%. 80.2% of the
study group opted selection of antibiotics from their previous prescription from dental or medical
professional. Adverse effects were faced by 7.8% of patients on taking self‑medication. The study
group was aware of the common dental procedures such as extraction and root canal treatment
in which antibiotics were commonly prescribed. Half of the patients (53.8%) do not know the term
antibiotic misuse, and 43.3% of the group opted antibiotic misuse to be unacceptable.
CONCLUSION: The study revealed the knowledge, attitude, and practice of the patients about
self‑medication in the Indian scenario. There is need for health‑care professionals and government
bodies to enlighten the public about the harmful effects of self‑medication with antibiotics to overcome
the antibiotic resistance.
Keywords
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