Abstract
Irrational and inappropriate antibiotic prescription is a worldwide phenomenon - increasing the threat of serious antibiotic resistance. A better understanding of health care providers' knowledge, attitudes, and prescription practices related to antibiotics is essential for formulating effective antibiotics stewardship programmes. The aim of the present study was to assess knowledge, attitudes, and prescription practices toward antibiotics among health care providers.A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between March and June 2017 to assess knowledge, attitudes, and prescription practices toward antibiotics among health care providers in the Rombo district of northern Tanzania. A total of 217 health care providers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire.Over half of health care providers (n=111, 51.2%) strongly agreed that the inappropriate prescription of antibiotics puts patients at risk. More than half (n=112, 51.6%) reported that their decision to start antibiotic therapy was influenced by a patient's clinical condition, while 110 (50.7%) reported they were influenced by positive microbiological results in symptomatic patients. Almost two-thirds of the health care providers (n=136, 62.7%) reported that they had access to and used antibiotic therapy guidelines. Less than a quarter (n=52, 24.0%) received regular training and education in antibiotic prescription practice in their work place.Knowledge and prescription practice of antibiotics among health care providers was generally unsatisfactory. Training and education for health care providers is needed in the area of prescribing antibiotics.
Highlights
IntroductionIn most parts of the world, antibiotic prescription practice and use is either irrational or inappropriate – increasing the threat of serious antibiotic resistance.[1,2] In 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that half of all medications are irrationally prescribed or sold worldwide.[3] The irrational prescription of medicines is a phenomenon that prevails across both developing and developed countries.[3,4] In African countries, for example, a systematic review of 43 studies on prescribing indicators at lower-level health care facilities indicated that the median number of medicines prescribed to clients for every encounter with a health provider was 3.1.5 This recent review of studies published from 1995 to 2015, included 6 studies
Antibiotics are the most commonly prescribed drugs in clinical practice
The objective of the present study was to assess knowledge, attitudes, and prescription practices related to antibiotics among health care providers in the Rombo district of northern Tanzania
Summary
In most parts of the world, antibiotic prescription practice and use is either irrational or inappropriate – increasing the threat of serious antibiotic resistance.[1,2] In 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that half of all medications are irrationally prescribed or sold worldwide.[3] The irrational prescription of medicines is a phenomenon that prevails across both developing and developed countries.[3,4] In African countries, for example, a systematic review of 43 studies on prescribing indicators at lower-level health care facilities indicated that the median number of medicines prescribed to clients for every encounter with a health provider was 3.1.5 This recent review of studies published from 1995 to 2015, included 6 studies. The aim of the present study was to assess knowledge, attitudes, and prescription practices toward antibiotics among health care providers
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