Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Paramedical Staff Working in a Medical College and Hospital towards Antibiotic Use and its Resistance: A Cross-Sectional Study
Creators
- 1. Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, SLN Medical College, Koraput, Odisha
- 2. Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, IMS & SUM Hospital, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
- 3. Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, PRM Medical College, Baripada, Odisha
- 4. Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Description
Background: Antibiotic misuse is common and contributes to antibiotic resistance, particularly in less-regulated healthcare systems like India. Antibiotic knowledge is well known to be relatively low among patients and the general public in many countries. Antibiotic misuse is especially noticeable in India, which is one of the largest global consumers of antibiotics for human health. Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and perceived practices of paramedical staff working in a medical college and tertiary care hospital regarding antibiotic usage and resistance. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional quantitative questionnaire-based study in a tertiary healthcare medical college and Hospital in eastern India. Total of 341 paramedical staff were provided with a pretested self-administered questionnaire. The survey questions focused on key topics such as antibiotic knowledge, attitude, and perceived antibiotic usage practices. Result: The majority of participants were under 40 years old and graduates. They understood antibiotic resistance well (81.81 percent) and side effects (91.2 percent). However, there was a widespread misunderstanding about the indications for antibiotic treatment, with only 17.00 percent agreeing that antibiotics play no role against viruses. The overall attitude was poor, with 65.98 percent expecting antibiotic prescriptions for short-term fever and the common cold. An alarming 92.96 percent of children expected antibiotic treatment for an ear infection. Compared to other paramedical staff, nurses and pharmacists had four times the knowledge about antibiotics. There was no significant relationship between antibiotic prescription patterns and doctor trust. Conclusion: Most participants knew a lot about antibiotic resistance and its side effects. Still, their attitude and usage practices are poor, and outcome-based education, such as frequent Continuing Medical Educations and awareness campaigns, could effectively bridge the gap between knowledge and practice.
Abstract (English)
Background: Antibiotic misuse is common and contributes to antibiotic resistance, particularly in less-regulated healthcare systems like India. Antibiotic knowledge is well known to be relatively low among patients and the general public in many countries. Antibiotic misuse is especially noticeable in India, which is one of the largest global consumers of antibiotics for human health. Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and perceived practices of paramedical staff working in a medical college and tertiary care hospital regarding antibiotic usage and resistance. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional quantitative questionnaire-based study in a tertiary healthcare medical college and Hospital in eastern India. Total of 341 paramedical staff were provided with a pretested self-administered questionnaire. The survey questions focused on key topics such as antibiotic knowledge, attitude, and perceived antibiotic usage practices. Result: The majority of participants were under 40 years old and graduates. They understood antibiotic resistance well (81.81 percent) and side effects (91.2 percent). However, there was a widespread misunderstanding about the indications for antibiotic treatment, with only 17.00 percent agreeing that antibiotics play no role against viruses. The overall attitude was poor, with 65.98 percent expecting antibiotic prescriptions for short-term fever and the common cold. An alarming 92.96 percent of children expected antibiotic treatment for an ear infection. Compared to other paramedical staff, nurses and pharmacists had four times the knowledge about antibiotics. There was no significant relationship between antibiotic prescription patterns and doctor trust. Conclusion: Most participants knew a lot about antibiotic resistance and its side effects. Still, their attitude and usage practices are poor, and outcome-based education, such as frequent Continuing Medical Educations and awareness campaigns, could effectively bridge the gap between knowledge and practice.
Files
IJPCR,Vol15,Issue2,Article46.pdf
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Additional details
Dates
- Accepted
-
2023-01-30
Software
- Repository URL
- https://impactfactor.org/PDF/IJPCR/15/IJPCR,Vol15,Issue2,Article46.pdf
- Development Status
- Active
References
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