Knowledge and practices regarding antibiotics use

Abstract Background and objectives This study aimed to assess the knowledge on antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the antibiotic use among the general public in Southern Italy and to analyze whether sociodemographic characteristics could be associated with poor knowledge and improper practices. Methodology From March to November 2019, a face-to-face interview was conducted with adult subjects attending the waiting room of 27 randomly selected general practitioners (GPs) in Southern Italy. The questionnaire covered sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge on antibiotics and AMR and practices regarding the consumption of and self-medication with antibiotics. Results The response rate was 89.7%. In the sample, 29.2% thought that antibiotics are effective for viral infections, and 49.5% correctly recognized the definition of AMR. Predictors of good knowledge about antibiotics and AMR were female gender and a higher education level. Almost half of the respondents had used antibiotics in the previous year and 23.6% took antibiotics to treat a common cold and/or fever. Among participants, 25.5% reported to have bought antibiotics without a prescription, and 30.6% were classified as antibiotic self-medication users. Use of antibiotics in the previous 12 months and having taken an antibiotic after a phone consultation with the GP were positively associated with both antibiotic use for a common cold and/or fever and self-medication with antibiotics. Conclusions and implications The findings of this study highlighted a considerable antibiotic consumption in the adult population of Southern Italy together with misconceptions regarding the correct indication for antibiotic use that could foster indiscriminate antibiotic use. Lay Summary The findings of this study highlighted a considerable antibiotic consumption in the adult Italian population together with misconceptions regarding the correct indication for antibiotic use that could foster indiscriminate antibiotic use. Almost a quarter of the respondents took antibiotics to treat a common cold and/or fever and reported to have bought antibiotics without a prescription.

[1]  V. Mićović,et al.  Parental Knowledge and Awareness Linked to Antibiotic Use and Resistance: Comparison of Urban and Rural Population in Croatia. , 2019, Microbial drug resistance.

[2]  S. Voidăzan,et al.  Knowledge, Attitudes And Practices Regarding The Use Of Antibiotics. Study On The General Population Of Mureş County, Romania , 2019, Infection and drug resistance.

[3]  Kristin N. Ray,et al.  Antibiotic Prescribing During Pediatric Direct-to-Consumer Telemedicine Visits , 2019, Pediatrics.

[4]  R. Mikolajczyk,et al.  Knowledge on Antibiotic Use, Self-Reported Adherence to Antibiotic Intake, and Knowledge on Multi-Drug Resistant Pathogens – Results of a Population-Based Survey in Lower Saxony, Germany , 2019, Front. Microbiol..

[5]  H. Blix,et al.  Knowledge of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance among Norwegian pharmacy customers – a cross-sectional study , 2019, BMC Public Health.

[6]  C. Stålsby Lundborg,et al.  Drivers of Irrational Use of Antibiotics in Europe , 2018, International journal of environmental research and public health.

[7]  Yoshiaki Gu,et al.  Public knowledge and perception about antimicrobials and antimicrobial resistance in Japan: A national questionnaire survey in 2017 , 2018, PloS one.

[8]  A. Bianco,et al.  Antibiotic prescriptions to adults with acute respiratory tract infections by Italian general practitioners , 2018, Infection and drug resistance.

[9]  Alistair Anderson.  Online health information and public knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours regarding antibiotics in the UK: Multiple regression analysis of Wellcome Monitor and Eurobarometer Data , 2018, PloS one.

[10]  E. Menditto,et al.  Prevalence of antibiotic prescription in southern Italian outpatients: real-world data analysis of socioeconomic and sociodemographic variables at a municipality level , 2018, ClinicoEconomics and outcomes research : CEOR.

[11]  Rossella Zucco,et al.  Internet and social media use for antibiotic-related information seeking: Findings from a survey among adult population in Italy , 2018, Int. J. Medical Informatics.

[12]  Jie Chang,et al.  How does the general public view antibiotic use in China? Result from a cross-sectional survey , 2017, International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy.

[13]  L. Raka,et al.  Public knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding antibiotic use in Kosovo , 2017, Pharmacy practice.

[14]  W. Hryniewicz,et al.  Surveys of public knowledge and attitudes with regard to antibiotics in Poland: Did the European Antibiotic Awareness Day campaigns change attitudes? , 2017, PloS one.

[15]  G. La Torre,et al.  Knowledge and attitudes towards the use of antibiotics in the paediatric age group: a multicenter survey in Italy , 2016, European journal of public health.

[16]  L. Hicks,et al.  Core Elements of Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship. , 2016, MMWR. Recommendations and reports : Morbidity and mortality weekly report. Recommendations and reports.

[17]  Samah W. Al-Jabi,et al.  Public Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding the Use of Antibiotics and Resistance: Findings from a Cross‐Sectional Study Among Palestinian Adults , 2016, Zoonoses and public health.

[18]  C. Stålsby Lundborg,et al.  Knowledge and Attitudes towards Antibiotic Use and Resistance - A Latent Class Analysis of a Swedish Population-Based Sample , 2016, PloS one.

[19]  C. Del Mar,et al.  A systematic review of the public's knowledge and beliefs about antibiotic resistance. , 2016, The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy.

[20]  J. Linder,et al.  Antimicrobial stewardship and public knowledge of antibiotics. , 2015, The Lancet. Infectious diseases.

[21]  A. Awad,et al.  Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards Antibiotic Use among the Public in Kuwait , 2015, PloS one.

[22]  Milene Fernandes,et al.  Non-adherence to antibiotic therapy in patients visiting community pharmacies , 2014, International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy.

[23]  F. Napolitano,et al.  Public Knowledge, Attitudes, and Experience Regarding the Use of Antibiotics in Italy , 2013, PloS one.

[24]  Rossella Zucco,et al.  Parents Seeking Health-Related Information on the Internet: Cross-Sectional Study , 2013, Journal of medical Internet research.

[25]  G. Grosso,et al.  Pattern of antibiotic use in the community: νon-adherence and self-prescription rates in an Italian urban population. , 2012, Molecular medicine reports.

[26]  C. Mcnulty,et al.  Don't wear me out--the public's knowledge of and attitudes to antibiotic use. , 2007, The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy.

[27]  J. Campos,et al.  Self-medication with Antimicrobial Drugs in Europe , 2006, Emerging infectious diseases.

[28]  M. Nichter,et al.  Changing patterns of pharmaceutical practice in the United States. , 1997, Social science & medicine.