Knowledge, attitude and practice of antibiotics prescribing among medical officers of public health care facilities in the state of Kedah, Malaysia
- Author:
Tan Wei Leong
;
Siti Rahmah@Noor Syahireen Mohammed
;
Shahfini Ishak
;
Zuraidah Ali
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Antibiotic prescribing;
antibiotic prescription;
knowledge;
attitudes;
practice
- MeSH:
Drug Prescriptions;
Drug Resistance, Microbial
- From:
The Medical Journal of Malaysia
2015;70(5):307-311
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background: Antibiotic resistance is a rising problem in
Malaysia. For instance, high antibiotic prescribing rate for
upper respiratory tract infection and inappropriate choice of
antibiotic is a significant healthcare concern in Malaysia.
Our main objective was to study knowledge, attitude and
practice of antibiotic prescribing among medical officers in
Kedah, Malaysia.
Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in
outpatient departments of health clinics and hospitals in
Kedah from June 2013 until December 2013. Sample size
was 118 and systematic sampling was conducted. Research
tool used was a validated questionnaire from studies
conducted in Congo and Peru.
Results: Response rate was 84.8%. Majority of our
respondents were female doctors (71.0%), local graduates
(63.0%), and practiced for 4 years or less (61.0%). 52.0% of
the respondents prescribed antibiotics more than once
daily. Mean knowledge score on antibiotics was 5.31 ±1.19
(95% CI: 5.06; 5.54). More than half (62.0%) of our
respondents were confident in antibiotic prescribing and
there were merely 18.0% of them consulted any colleagues
prior to prescription. There was a significant difference in
frequency of antibiotic prescribing between junior doctors
and senior doctors (P-value: 0.036). In addition, there was
also a significant association between frequency of
antibiotic prescribing and awareness of antibiotic resistance
in their daily practice. (P-value: 0.002).
Conclusion: Knowledge on antibiotic was moderate among
our medical officers and antibiotic prescribing was frequent.
Training and courses on appropriate antibiotic prescribing
should be emphasized to ensure the best practice in
antibiotic prescription.
- Full text:P020151109561560064606.pdf
