Abstract
Background: The antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) report has guiding significance for physicians to prescribe antibiotics. This study aims to examine the effect of the AST report information complexity on physician’s intention to prescribe antibiotics based on the AST report, as well as the mediating role of information overload and attitude. Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted on 411 physicians in a general hospital in China in July 2021. Data were collected by a self-reported questionnaire. A serial multiple mediation model was tested to explore the sequential causality between the information complexity of the AST report, information overload, attitude, and behavior intention to prescribe antibiotics based on the AST report by using the SPSS macro PROCESS program. Results: Information complexity, information overload, attitude and behavior intention were significantly correlated (p < 0.01). Information complexity can not only have a direct positive impact on the intention to prescribe antibiotics based on the AST report (effect = 0.173; SE = 0.044; Boot95%CI: LL = 0.089, UL = 0.260), but also have an indirect impact on behavior intention through the independent mediating role of information overload (effect = 0.025; SE = 0.011; Boot 95%CI: LL = 0.008, UL = 0.050) and the independent mediating role of attitude (effect = 0.130; SE = 0.025; Boot 95%CI: LL = 0.086, UL = 0.180), while the chain of information overload and attitude played a masking effect between information complexity and behavior intention (effect = −0.013; SE = 0.004; Boot 95%CI: LL = −0.023, UL = −0.005). Conclusion: The increase in information complexity can encourage physicians to prescribe antibiotics based on the AST report, information overload and attitude can promote this effect. It is necessary to provide physicians with sufficient information to prescribe antibiotics without increasing the burden on them. At the same time, publicity and standardized training should be conducted for physicians to interpret the AST report better and faster.
Highlights
The current situation of Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is severe and the main reason is irrational use of antibiotics
Regression analysis (Table2) showed that information complexity of the Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) report was positively associated with the information overload (β 0.222, p < 0.001)and attitude (β 0.324, p < 0.001); information overload was negatively associated with attitude (β 0.-0.141, p < 0.001); at the same time, information complexity, information overload and attitude were all positively associated with the intention to prescribe antibiotics based on the AST report (β 0.173, p < 0.001; β 0.114, p < 0.001; β 0.125, p < 0.01)
The results showed that information overload and attitude mediated the association between information complexity and the intention to prescribe antibiotics based on the AST report, and this mediation includes three pathways: the independent mediating effects of information overload and attitude and the chain masking effect of information overload and attitude
Summary
The current situation of Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is severe and the main reason is irrational use of antibiotics. Rational prescription of antibiotics by physicians is the key to controlling the hazards of AMR and is of importance to public health (Hashemi, et al, 2013). As an important basis for clinical decision-making, the AST report has guiding significance for physicians to prescribe antibiotics (Drobniewski et al, 2015). It is worthy to study the behavior intention of physicians to prescribe antibiotics based on the AST reports and its influencing factors. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) report has guiding significance for physicians to prescribe antibiotics. This study aims to examine the effect of the AST report information complexity on physician’s intention to prescribe antibiotics based on the AST report, as well as the mediating role of information overload and attitude
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