Factors associated with antibiotic use, resistance and safety have been well documented worldwide in the literature. Nevertheless, only few studies have been conducted in Tamil Nadu. The aim of this study was to assess the patient’s attitudes toward the use and knowledge of antibiotics, survey instrument included questions about the patient’s demographic information, familiarity with various antibiotics, attitudes toward the knowledge and safety use of antibiotics and the patient’s comfort level when discussing antibiotics. 79% believed that antibiotics are safe to treat common cold and cough. 15% of females showed inadequate knowledge about the safe use of antibiotics during pregnancy and nursing. 35% kept antibiotics at home for emergency use and 39% misused antibiotics as analgesics. 35% use left-over antibiotics without physicians’ consultation while 65% use antibiotics based on a relative advice. 90% of patients indicated that they were used the antibiotics without any counselling. Hence the remedy suggested for avoid the misuse of antibiotics in the overall population are emphasizing pharmacists role and responsibility in preventing antibiotic sale without prescription and consultation approaches and strategies that make patient expectations explicit without destructing physician patient relationship.
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