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Knowledge, attitude, and practice of health care workers towards antibiotic resistance and antimicrobial stewardship programmes: A cross‐sectional study
Author(s) -
Firouzabadi Dena,
Mahmoudi Laleh
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of evaluation in clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.737
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1365-2753
pISSN - 1356-1294
DOI - 10.1111/jep.13177
Subject(s) - antimicrobial stewardship , medicine , antibiotic resistance , cross sectional study , family medicine , health care , antibiotic stewardship , limiting , resistance (ecology) , antibiotics , nursing , mechanical engineering , ecology , engineering , pathology , microbiology and biotechnology , economics , biology , economic growth
Rationale and Aims Antibiotic development was a major breakthrough in defeating infections; however, their vast use has led to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) causing mortality, morbidity, and financial burden worldwide. Considering the limited introduction of newer antimicrobials to overcome resistance patterns, sufficient knowledge of their use can help manage this issue. Antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs) with the mainstay of education can be a good resolution. The aim of this study was to seek aspects in which knowledge regarding antibiotics is lacking at our institutions. Materials and Methods This cross‐sectional study performed in Shiraz, South of Iran, was designed as a knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) study. A self‐administered questionnaire consisting of 15 questions was designed and handed out to health care workers including infectious disease practitioners, surgeons, internal medicine specialists and residents, general practitioners, medical students, and microbiology lab technicians and PhD graduates. Difference in response to questions was evaluated between the practitioner and nonpractitioner groups. Results Completed questionnaires were collected (n = 126). According to the results, most participants (88.1%) agreed on establishment of local guidelines. Majority (94.4%) also believed that education regarding antibiotics can help reduce AMR. Good patient care was not believed to be impaired by limiting use of antibiotics (72.2%). A significant difference in the practitioner and nonpractitioner groups' practice score was observed. Conclusion In our study, knowledge deficit was observed in some aspects of AMR. We can conclude that more practice and education are needed in ASP for the better performance in reducing resistant patterns.