EFFECTS OF IRRATIONAL USE OF ANTIBIOTICS ON THE HEALTH OF PATIENTS IN PRIVATE HOSPITALS OF KARACHI

Abstract

Purpose: Purpose of this research is to explain and control the effects of irrational use of antibiotics on patients’ health and to promote the rational use of antibiotics. This research will help health professionals (mainly pharmacists and physicians) to control the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. This research will help that how much there is need of spreading awareness through healthcare programs, seminars to spread the knowledge of antibiotics. Another aim of this research is to create a healthy community. Mainly in hospitals, rational practice of antibiotics aim can be achieved by ‘antibiotic stewardship program’ (ASP). Methodology/sample: The research, being explanatory in nature, involved quantitative data collected through a structured questionnaire. The data collected from the out patients of Medicenter Hospital and Diagnostics and Jamal Noor Hospital of Karachi which are private hospitals. The sample size of patients was 292. To analyze the data, Pearson Correlation and Linear Regression tests were applied. Findings: The finding of this research study showed that the results are statistical significant that irrational use of antibiotics results in memory loss, depression and development of antibiotic resistance. However there is a weak relationship with memory loss, a moderate relationship with depression and a very weak or negligible relationship found with antibiotic resistance. Practical Implications: The results and also the recommendations of this research are likely to help the management of Jamal Noor Hospital and Medicenter Hospital and Diagnostics to give the awareness about the proper use of antibiotics by effective seminars and programs to educate the patients or people about the effective use of antibiotics.