Abstract
Antibiotics are commonly prescribed among older adults, and inappropriate use of antibiotics has been noted. However, there is limited information about their knowledge and expectations for antibiotics. This study aimed to assess older adults’ knowledge of antibiotic use and resistance, their expectations for antibiotics and the relationship between knowledge, expectation and inappropriate practices related to antibiotic use. A cross-sectional survey involving respondents aged 60 years and above was conducted, using a validated questionnaire. A lack of knowledge about the role of antibiotics was observed, whereby more than half of the respondents incorrectly believed that antibiotics can treat viral infections (53.5%) and colds and coughs (53.7%). Also, 67.9% of respondents incorrectly believed that antibiotic resistance occurs when the body becomes resistant to antibiotics. Almost half of the respondents would expect antibiotics for symptoms of self-limiting viral infections. Respondents who answered correctly for the role of antibiotics in viral infections were more likely not to expect antibiotics for cold, flu and cough (p < 0.001). Respondents who answered correctly regarding the need to adhere to antibiotics were more likely to have completed their antibiotic course (p < 0.001). Future educational initiatives should provide key information on the role of antibiotics and the importance of complying with antibiotics in this population.
Highlights
The devastating threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to global human health is unquestionable [1]
This study aimed to assess the relationship between knowledge, expectations and practices related to antibiotic use among older adults
In terms of knowledge on antibiotic resistance, 67.9% of respondents incorrectly believed that antibiotic resistance occurs when the body becomes resistant to antibiotics, and 62.4% of them thought that antibiotic resistance is only a problem for people who take antibiotics regularly
Summary
The devastating threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to global human health is unquestionable [1]. The difficult-to-treat AMR infections require longer hospital stays and more costly treatment, increase morbidity and mortality, and reduce productivity; increasing the economic burden of the countries [4]. In recent years, this global health crisis has been gaining much attention in Malaysia, and Malaysia has been striving hard to combat it via different approaches [5]. Antibiotic consumption by the elderly population was found to be between 11% to 45%, with a significant rise over the past decade [7,8,9]. Healthcare providers face challenges in adequately diagnosing and managing infections in this vulnerable population because of the altered drug metabolism in this particular group, the common occurrence
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