Antibiotics dispensing practice in communiy pharmacies: results of a cross sectional study in Italy
Description
The dataset was used in a cross-sectional study primarily aimed to investigate knowledge and attitudes regarding antibiotic resistance (ABR) and dispensing antibiotic without prescription (DAwP), and to assess the extent of the practice of DAwP among Italian community pharmacists (CPs). From July 2019 to February 2020, a nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted in a representative sample of the Italian CPs. The information is collected through a mixed technique, which uses an online questionnaire that is filled in by respondents, a direct telephone interview with the questionnaire administered by an interviewer, and a self-administered paper questionnaire. An anonymous, structured, validated and pilot-tested questionnaire was used, comprising of five sections: (1) the first section gathered data on demographic and professional characteristics; (2) the second section evaluated pharmacists’ knowledge about ABR and DAwP and its impact on the emergence of ABR and on public health; (3) the third section evaluated CPs’ attitudes towards DAwP and ABR; (4) the fourth section evaluated CPs’ practices regarding dispensing antibiotic with or without prescription, including reasons for DAwP; (5) the fifth section explored the information sources that CPs used to update their knowledge about ABR. Bivariate (t-tests, chi-square and Fisher exact test) and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine the independent association of explanatory variables with the outcomes of interest: (1) having ever been involved in DAwP and (2) having informed clients about antibiotic use while engaged in dispensing. 415 CPs answered the general questionnaire (response rate 86.5%).