{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,8]],"date-time":"2026-07-08T12:25:11Z","timestamp":1783513511843,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":22,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,21]],"date-time":"2024-02-21T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1708473600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Pharmacol."],"abstract":"<jats:p><jats:bold>Background:<\/jats:bold> Self-medication with antibiotics is a global phenomenon and a potential contributor to human pathogen resistance to antibiotics. It involves obtaining medication without a prescription, taking medicines based on the advice of friends and relatives, or previous treatment experience. Self-medication is common in both developed and developing countries; however, the prevalence of self-medication is higher in developing countries. The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics of antimicrobial self-medication in Georgia and its potential to influence the overall situation regarding antimicrobial consumption in the country.<\/jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Methods:<\/jats:bold> We conducted a cross-sectional study using a random sampling method and developed a self-administered questionnaire to collect the data. The survey was conducted via the Internet using the Google Forms platform.<\/jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Results:<\/jats:bold> The overall number of respondents was 742 adults living in Georgia. The results showed that 23.8% (<jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic> = 177) of adults had consumed antibiotics without a doctor\u2019s prescription, and 12.7% (<jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic> = 94) confirmed the use of antibiotics by their own decision to treat minor family members. The total prevalence of self-medication was 32.6%. The data analysis revealed a correlation between factor F1 (\u201cpersonal experience\u201d) and gender (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic> = 0.042, F = 2.6), and between age and factor F2 (\u201clack of trust in medical practitioners\u201d) (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic> = 0.047, F = 2.691). The correlation was stronger among young adults (aged 18\u201324) and senior adults (aged 60+). The correlation between the level of education and factor F2 was stronger (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic> = 0.00; F1 = 7.9) than with factor F1 (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic> = 0.04; F = 2.2).<\/jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Conclusion:<\/jats:bold> Self-medication is prevalent in Georgia; pharmacies are the main sources of antimicrobials. No correlation was found between factor F2, pertaining to \u201clack of trust in medical practitioners\u201d and gender, between age and factor F1, linked to \u201cpersonal experience.\u201d The study uncovered a lack of knowledge about self-medication with antibiotics and emphasized the importance of public awareness campaigns and implementing effective interventions to regulate the sales of antibiotics without a doctor\u2019s prescription.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fphar.2024.1254817","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,21]],"date-time":"2024-02-21T04:39:21Z","timestamp":1708490361000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["Self-medication with antibiotics in Georgian population"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Marina","family":"Darakhvelidze","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Iagor","family":"Kalandadze","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nino","family":"Mirzikashvili","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"David","family":"Tsereteli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Natalia","family":"Zakareishvili","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ivane","family":"Ketchakmadze","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,21]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/antibiotics9020097","article-title":"Public awareness and practices towards self-medication with antibiotics among the malaysian population","author":"Adeel","year":"2023","journal-title":"A Development of Questionnaire and Pilot-Testing"},{"key":"B2","article-title":"Self-medication practice among patients attending a sample of primary health care centers in Erbil city","volume":"7","author":"Ahmed","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Educ. Pract."},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"514","DOI":"10.3201\/eid1003.030252","article-title":"Antibiotic selection pressure and resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes","volume":"10","author":"Albrich","year":"2004","journal-title":"Emerg. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"74","DOI":"10.7326\/0003-4819-133-1-200007040-00017","article-title":"\"Leftover\" antibiotics in the medicine cabinet","volume":"133","author":"Ceaser","year":"2000","journal-title":"Ann. Intern Med."},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"126","DOI":"10.1592\/phco.27.10part2.126S","article-title":"Factors contributing to excessive antimicrobial prescribing","volume":"27","author":"Ebert","year":"2007","journal-title":"Pharmacotherapy"},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1082","DOI":"10.1086\/533450","article-title":"It\u2019s time for a change in practice: reducing antibiotic use can alter antibiotic resistance","volume":"197","author":"Friedman","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"579","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(05)17907-0","article-title":"Outpatient antibiotic use in Europe and association with resistance: a cross-national database study","volume":"365","author":"Goossens","year":"2005","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"452","DOI":"10.3201\/eid1203.050992","article-title":"Self-medication with antimicrobial drugs in Europe","volume":"12","author":"Grigoryan","year":"2006","journal-title":"Emerg. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"329","DOI":"10.2174\/157488610792246046","article-title":"Self-medication with antibiotics in Europe: a case for action","volume":"5","author":"Grigoryan","year":"2010","journal-title":"Curr. Drug Saf."},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1027","DOI":"10.2165\/00002018-200124140-00002","article-title":"Benefits and risks of self-medication","volume":"24","author":"Hughes","year":"2001","journal-title":"Drug Saf."},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"395","DOI":"10.1159\/000316380","article-title":"Self-medication among healthcare and non-healthcare students at university of Ljubljana, Slovenia","volume":"19","author":"Klemenc-Ketis","year":"2010","journal-title":"Med. Princ. Pract."},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1096","DOI":"10.3201\/eid0909.020371","article-title":"Antibiotic use in hispanic households, New York city","volume":"9","author":"Larson","year":"2003","journal-title":"Emerg. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e2428","DOI":"10.7759\/cureus.2428","article-title":"Self-medication with antibiotics in WHO southeast asian region: a systematic review","volume":"10","author":"Nepal","year":"2018","journal-title":"Cureus"},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"808","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sjbs.2017.01.004","article-title":"Self-medication and antibiotic resistance: crisis, current challenges, and prevention","volume":"24","author":"Rather","year":"2017","journal-title":"Saudi J. Biol. Sci."},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"57","DOI":"10.1053\/ajem.2001.20035","article-title":"Oral antibiotic use without consulting a physician: a survey of ED patients","volume":"19","author":"Richman","year":"2001","journal-title":"Am. J. Emerg. Med."},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"521","DOI":"10.1128\/AAC.42.3.521","article-title":"Pharmacodynamic evaluation of factors associated with the development of bacterial resistance in acutely ill patients during therapy","volume":"42","author":"Thomas","year":"1998","journal-title":"Antimicrob. Agents Chemother."},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"166","DOI":"10.1016\/j.healthpol.2005.07.001","article-title":"Self-medication with antibiotics--does it really happen in Europe? Health Policy","volume":"77","author":"V\u00e4\u00e4n\u00e4nen","year":"2006","journal-title":"Health Policy"},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1128","DOI":"10.3201\/eid0909.020591","article-title":"Consumer attitudes and use of antibiotics","volume":"9","author":"Vanden Eng","year":"2003","journal-title":"Emerg. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"38","DOI":"10.2174\/1874279301004010038","article-title":"Update on antibacterial resistance in low-income countries: factors favoring the emergence of resistance","volume":"4","author":"Vila","year":"2010","journal-title":"Open Infect. Dis. J."},{"key":"B20","first-page":"51","volume-title":"The legal and regulatory framework for community pharmacies in the WHO European Region","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2019"},{"key":"B21","volume-title":"Guidelines for the regulatory assessment of medicinal products for use in self medication","year":"2000"},{"key":"B22","first-page":"214","article-title":"Self-medication amongst university students of Karachi: prevalence, knowledge and attitudes","volume":"58","author":"Zafar","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Pak. Med. Assoc."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Pharmacology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fphar.2024.1254817\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,21]],"date-time":"2024-02-21T04:39:26Z","timestamp":1708490366000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fphar.2024.1254817\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,21]]},"references-count":22,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fphar.2024.1254817"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fphar.2024.1254817","relation":{},"ISSN":["1663-9812"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1663-9812","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,21]]},"article-number":"1254817"}}