Evaluation of Family Physicians’ Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding the Rational Use of Antibiotics: A Survey Based Study

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Antibiotics are widely used all over the world, but the use of appropriate antibiotics in the appropriate dose and duration plays a critical role in reducing the development of resistance, and mortality in particular, as well as undesirable effects and treatment costs associated with infections. The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge and attitudes of primary care family physicians regarding the rational use of antibiotics (RUA) and to raise awareness about this issue. Methods: Before the "Training for the Rational Use of Antibiotics" for family physicians of primary healthcare in Antalya in 2019, a questionnaire was distributed to the physicians. The questionnaire contained 37 questions, including 27 multiple-choice questions designed to assess physicians' general attitudes toward antibiotic rationalization. The questionnaire, which consists of ten questions, also includes a test at the end, which is calculated over a total of 100 points. The purpose of the test is to assess family physicians' knowledge of rational antibiotic use. Each correct answer was worth 10 points, and the average success and standard deviations of the physicians were computed. Results: This study included 143 family physicians in total. The mean success score standard deviation (SD) was found to be 66.5 18.51 out of 100 in the test, which measures the knowledge level of physicians prior to training. The success scores of physicians aged 55 and older were found to be statistically significantly lower than the scores of those in other age groups (55.6 21.2 points (mean SD). Other variables examined within the scope of the study were found to have no effect on the physicians' success scores. It was also discovered that physicians frequently answered incorrectly questions about the use of the Modified Centor Clinical Scoring system.The relevant records showed that only 7867 (27.4%) of 28 712 Rapid Antigen tests (RATs) distributed to family physicians by the Provincial Health Directorate were used. Conclusions: Although the majority of the participants stated that they used diagnosis and treatment guidelines when prescribing antibiotics, it was discovered that the use of the Modified Centor clinical scoring system and the RADTs was not common among them, and that there were some deficiencies in the RUA.