From patients' perspective, the use of antibiotics to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs) in Serbia is unexplored, and therefore the aim of this study is to examine antibiotic use among these patients. An online cross-sectional study using snowball sampling was conducted during the winter of 2020/21 using a validated Google Docs questionnaire. The study included 236 female patients with a mean age of 34.9 ± 14.2 years. Most of the patients perceived UTI symptoms as severe (62.3%) and disruptive for their daily routines (51.3%). The majority of the patients (77.1%) used antibiotics by doctors' prescriptions. Other patients used antibiotics on their own and their selection. Self-treatment with antibiotics was associated with perceived symptom severity (p=0.006) and residence (p=0.017). In total, 17 different antibiotics were reported as being used for UTI treatment and the most frequent were fluoroquinolones (30.3%), cephalosporins (21.2%), and sulfonamides (15.7%). The highest consistency with national and European guidelines in doctors' decisions on antibiotic therapy was observed for treating UTIs in pregnant women (80.0%). These findings emphasize the need for education of healthcare professionals and clinical practice improvement in making rational antibiotic prescribing decisions.

The role of pharmacists in managing urinary tract infections (UTIs) is crucial, yet there is no instrument to assess their attitudes and practices in this area. The study aimed to develop and initially validate a questionnaire to evaluate pharmacists' attitudes and practices concerning patient counselling for UTIs, with the ultimate goal of supporting improvements in pharmacy practice and enhancing the quality of patient care. The questionnaire was developed and initially validated (content and face) through a multi-phase mixed-methods approach consisting of: 1) initial item generation applying a comprehensive literature review, 2) first expert panel discussion, 3) content and cultural validation by pharmacists (focus group discussion), 4) second expert panel discussion, and 5) pretesting by the target population. The necessity, relevance, and clarity were assessed by calculating the Content Validity Ratio (CVR), Item-Level Content Validity Index (I-CVI), and Scale-Level Content Validity Index (S-CVI/Ave). Qualitative data was analyzed using an ethnographic content analysis. The initial questionnaire consisted of 33 items, divided into two domains: pharmaceutical practice and attitudes. After phases 2–4, all items were rated with satisfactory CVR and I-CVI values (over 0.99 and 0.83, respectively). The final phase of content validation resulted in the questionnaire final version of 25 items with S-CVI/Ave = 0.98 for relevance and S-CVI/Ave = 1 for clarity. Internal consistency analysis demonstrated high reliability for the attitudes toward antibiotics subscale (Cronbach's α = 0.850) and acceptable reliability for the attitudes toward herbal products subscale (Cronbach's α = 0.735). The developed questionnaire is concise, easy to use and has satisfactory content and face validity. The developed questionnaire can be used to assess pharmacists' practices and attitudes in counselling patients with UTI symptoms, contributing to the identification of areas for improvement in pharmacy practice and patient safety.

The use of medicinal plants dates back to ancient civilizations, where they were the primary form of treatment. This interest has evolved with scientific advances and led to their modern use. Around 13000 medicinal plants are used worldwide, and 65-80% of the population uses them for therapeutic purposes. In Serbia, approximately 700 medicinal plant species are found, of which around 420 are actively used. An important medical field in which medicinal plants play a crucial therapeutic role is the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs). This study aimed to collect and document the diverse uses of medicinal plants and the traditional knowledge in Serbia regarding their therapeutic applications in treating UTIs.

Background/Objectives: Pharmacists play a key role in managing urinary tract infection (UTI) symptoms by providing medications, self-care advice, and over-the-counter treatments, while referring patients to a doctor when necessary. This study aimed to examine the practices of community pharmacists in managing UTI symptoms and to gain insight into their attitudes toward antibiotic use for this condition. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among community pharmacists in Serbia using a previously validated online questionnaire, assessed for content and face validity and pilot-tested among pharmacists. Results: A total of 430 community pharmacists participated in the study. Patients more often consulted pharmacists before visiting a doctor than after (median 5 vs. 3 per week; p < 0.001). For uncomplicated UTIs, pharmacists primarily recommended increased fluid intake (92.8%), herbal teas (94.7%), and food supplements (85.6%), whereas for complicated UTIs, most referred patients to a doctor (95.4%). Attitudes, perceived competence, and support for over-the-counter antibiotic availability were significantly associated with gender, years of experience, and specialization. Pharmacists who agreed that antibiotics are the most effective treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections were more likely to refer patients to a doctor (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Pharmacists are frequently consulted for UTI management and emphasize non-antibiotic approaches for uncomplicated cases. Their attitudes influence counseling practices, highlighting the need for standardized UTI counseling services, antimicrobial stewardship education, and structured communication training to support appropriate antibiotic use.

Herbal teas have a long tradition in Serbian pharmacy and have been recognised as official preparations in Serbian and Yugoslav pharmacopoeias and magistral formularies since the publication of Pharmacopoeia Serbica editio prima in 1881. The objective of this study was to examine the historical development of official multicomponent herbal teas in pharmacopoeias and magistral formularies used in pharmaceutical practice in Serbia. A total of 13 Serbian and Yugoslav pharmacopoeias and magistral formularies published between 1881 and 2024, including the Serbian Pharmacopoeias (1881 and 1926), the Yugoslav Pharmacopoeias (1933, 1951, 1972, 1984, and 2000) and the Magistral Formularies (1957, 1958, 1966, 1979, 2008, and 2024), were analysed to identify official multicomponent herbal teas. Sixty-two monographs of multicomponent herbal teas, including repeated entries in multiple editions, comprising 72 different herbal drugs, were identified. The most common were pectoral, bitter, laxative, sedative, diuretic and antispasmodic herbal teas. The most frequently used herbal drugs were Menthae piperitae folium (n=22), Liquiritiae radix (n=16), Matricariae flos (n=15), Malvae flos (n=11), Althaeae folium (n=11) and Althaeae radix (n=11). The simplest formulations contained three herbal drugs, while the most complex was Species pectorales (Ph. Serb. I), which contained ten components. Continuity in the use of several herbal drugs was observed throughout the study period, notably Althaeae radix, Althaeae folium, Liquiritiae radix, Matricariae flos, Menthae piper itae folium, and Valerianae radix, which were repeatedly recorded over more than a century. This study highlights the long-term historical evolution of official multicomponent herbal teas within pharmacopoeial and ma gistral pharmaceutical practice in Serbia.