Pharmacists' perceptions on antibiotic prescription and utilization in Bulgaria
1 Department of Health Management and Health Economics, Faculty of Public Health “Prof. Tsekomir Vodenicharov, MD, DSc”, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria.
2 Department of Social Medicine and Healthcare Organization, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Varna, Varna, Bulgaria.
3 Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Varna, Varna, Bulgaria.
4 Department of Economics and Healthcare Management, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Varna, Varna, Bulgaria.
Research Article
World Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences, 2025, 08(01), 001–014.
Article DOI: 10.53346/wjapls.2025.8.1.0022
Publication history:
Received on 14 March 2025; revised on 03 May 2025; accepted on 05 May 2025
Abstract:
Antibiotic resistance poses a critical global health threat, largely driven by inappropriate antibiotic use. Pharmacists, as accessible healthcare providers, play an essential role in antimicrobial stewardship. This study aimed to assess the attitudes, practices, and awareness of Bulgarian pharmacists regarding antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). A cross-sectional survey was conducted from February 2023 to June 2024, involving 117 pharmacists from various practice settings across Bulgaria. Participants were divided into two groups based on their agreement with the statement that antibiotics are overprescribed. Results showed that 69.8% of participants agreed that antibiotics are overprescribed. This group demonstrated significantly greater awareness of the public health risks associated with irrational antibiotic use, stronger beliefs in the importance of pharmaceutical consultations, and higher concern over dispensing antibiotics without a prescription. No significant differences were found in beliefs regarding antibiotic resistance linked to animal use or patient adherence to medication instructions. The findings suggest that while Bulgarian pharmacists recognize key aspects of their role in combating AMR, certain knowledge gaps remain. Their strong support for pharmaceutical consultations underscores the potential to enhance antibiotic stewardship efforts through pharmacist-led interventions. Addressing gaps through targeted education and training may further strengthen pharmacists’ contributions to rational antibiotic use and AMR mitigation.
Keywords:
Antimicrobial Resistance; AMR; Antibiotic Over Prescription; Pharmacists; Antibiotic Stewardship
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Copyright © 2025 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0