ASSESSMENT OF PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE REGARDING ANTIBIOTIC USE IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL
Abstract
Objective: The present study was designed to investigate the public knowledge and attitude toward antibiotic use in a general population visiting the
tertiary care hospital.
Methods: A prospective cross-sectional survey conducted for a period of 6-month December-2013 to May-2014. Knowledge scoring was given based
on the percentage of correct responses. Data were collected using a self-prepared questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Association
of respondent's knowledge score with sex, age group, educational level, and income was analyzed by Chi-square test.
Results: The results of our study showed that the level of knowledge on antibiotics use was poor in 117 (65%) of the study population who had given
<50% correct response. The current study showed that there was a significant difference in knowledge between education level groups (p≤0.0001).
The other responses regarding knowledge are 27.2% accepted that antibiotics are indicated for relieving pain and inflammation, 45% of participants
thought that antibiotics are the drugs indicated to reduce fever. About 76.6% of respondents had administered antibiotics without a doctor's
prescription, 44% of respondents used antibiotics with their friends and family member's suggestions. 48% of respondents keep antibiotics stock
at home for future use and 79.4% of respondents keep leftover antibiotics for personal future use, 31% share their antibiotics with family members
when they are sick and 34% of respondents use leftover antibiotics for a respiratory illness.
Conclusion: Patients, as well as healthcare professionals, have a major role to play in attaining rational antibiotic use. Antibiotic awareness campaigns
and patient counseling should promote specific messages to public members from the high risk†groups, to fill up the knowledge and attitude gaps.
Keywords: Antibiotic use, Self-medication, Attitude, Miss-use, Awareness, Microbial resistance.
Downloads
References
Roque F, Soares S, Breitenfeld L, Figueiras A, Herdeiro MT. Influence
of community pharmacists? Attitudes on antibiotic dispensing behavior:
A cross-sectional study in Portugal. Clin Ther 2015;37(1):168-77.
Gualano MR, Gili R, Scaioli G, Bert F, Siliquini R. General population’s
knowledge and attitudes about antibiotics: A systematic review and
meta-analysis. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2015;24(1):2-10.
Napolitano F, Izzo MT, Di Giuseppe G, Angelillo IF. Public knowledge,
attitudes, and experience regarding the use of antibiotics in Italy. PLoS
One 2013;8(12):e84177.
Costelloe C, Metcalfe C, Lovering A, Mant D, Hay AD. Effect of
antibiotic prescribing in primary care on antimicrobial resistance
in individual patients: Systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ
;340:c2096.
Maragakis LL, Perencevich EN, Cosgrove SE. Clinical and economic
burden of antimicrobial resistance. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther
;6(5):751-63.
Jose J, Jimmy B, Alsabahi AG, Al Sabei GA. A study assessing
public knowledge, belief and behavior of antibiotic use in an Omani
population. Oman Med J 2013;28(5):324-30.
Kandakai TL, Price JH, Telljohann SK, Holiday-Goodman M.
Knowledge, beliefs, and use of prescribed antibiotic medications
among low-socioeconomic African Americans. J Natl Med Assoc
;88(5):289-94.
Kardas P. Noncompliance in current antibiotic practice. Infect Dis Clin
Pract 2006;14(4):11-4.
Pechère JC, Hughes D, Kardas P, Cornaglia G. Non-compliance with
antibiotic therapy for acute community infections: A global survey. Int
J Antimicrob Agents 2007;29(3):245-53.
Shehadeh M, Suaifan G, Darwish RM, Wazaify M, Zaru L, Alja’fari S.
Knowledge, attitudes and behavior regarding antibiotics use and misuse
among adults in the community of Jordan. A pilot study. Saudi Pharm J
;20(2):125-33.
Parimi N, Pinto Pereira LM, Prabhakar P. The general public’s
perceptions and use of antimicrobials in Trinidad and Tobago. Rev
Panam Salud Publica 2002;12(1):11-8.
Vanden Eng J, Marcus R, Hadler JL, Imhoff B, Vugia DJ, Cieslak PR,
et al. Consumer attitudes and use of antibiotics. Emerg Infect Dis
;9(9):1128-35.
You JH, Yau B, Choi KC, Chau CT, Huang QR, Lee SS. Public
knowledge, attitudes and behavior on antibiotic use: A telephone survey
in Hong Kong. Infection 2008;36(2):153-7.
Ling Oh A, Hassali MA, Al-Haddad MS, Syed Sulaiman SA, Shafie AA,
Awaisu A. Public knowledge and attitudes towards antibiotic usage: A
cross-sectional study among the general public in the state of Penang,
Malaysia. J Infect Dev Ctries 2011;5(5):338-47.
Belongia EA, Naimi TS, Gale CM, Besser RE. Antibiotic use and upper
Asian J Pharm Clin Res, Vol 9, Issue 1, 2016, 118-122
Chandrakanth et al.
respiratory infections: A survey of knowledge, attitudes, and experience
in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Prev Med 2002;34(3):346-52.
Grigoryan L, Burgerhof JG, Degener JE, Deschepper R, Lundborg CS,
Monnet DL, et al. Attitudes, beliefs and knowledge concerning
antibiotic use and self-medication: A comparative European study.
Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2007;16(11):1234-43.
McNulty CA, Boyle P, Nichols T, Clappison P, Davey P. Don’t wear
me out – The public’s knowledge of and attitudes to antibiotic use.
J Antimicrob Chemother 2007;59(4):727-38.
Filipetto FA, Modi DS, Weiss LB, Ciervo CA. Patient knowledge and
perception of upper respiratory infections, antibiotic indications and
resistance. Patient Prefer Adherence 2008;2:35-9.
Liu YC, Huang WK, Huang TS, Kunin CM. Inappropriate use of
antibiotics and the risk for delayed admission and masked diagnosis
of infectious diseases: A lesson from Taiwan. Arch Intern Med
;161(19):2366-70.
Carey B, Cryan B. Antibiotic misuse in the community – A contributor
to resistance? Ir Med J 2003;96(2):43-4, 46.
Sarkar P, Gould IM. Antimicrobial agents are societal drugs: How
should this influence prescribing? Drugs 2006;66(7):893-901.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
The publication is licensed under CC By and is open access. Copyright is with author and allowed to retain publishing rights without restrictions.