Factors associated with doctors' knowledge on antibiotic use in China

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Antibiotic misuse is a significant global health concern.
• Understanding healthcare professionals' knowledge is crucial for improving antimicrobial stewardship.
• Assessing physician knowledge is key to developing effective antibiotic use strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey Chinese doctors' knowledge of antibiotics.
• To identify factors associated with varying levels of antibiotic knowledge among physicians.
• To inform targeted interventions for enhancing rational antibiotic prescribing.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Shanxi, China.
• 761 physicians completed a structured, self-administered questionnaire.
• Generalized linear regression analysis identified factors associated with knowledge levels.

Main Results:

• The average knowledge score for antibiotics was 6.29 out of 10.
• Internal medicine physicians, chief doctors, and those with continuing education showed better knowledge.
• Physicians in secondary and primary healthcare facilities had lower knowledge scores compared to tertiary hospital doctors.

Conclusions:

• Chinese doctors exhibit suboptimal knowledge regarding antimicrobial agents.
• Continuing medical education positively impacts antibiotic knowledge, but further improvement is needed.
• Targeted educational programs are essential, particularly for primary healthcare providers, to enhance antimicrobial stewardship.