Patient Knowledge and Experiences With Antibiotic Use and Delayed Antibiotic Prescribing in the Outpatient Setting

Most antibiotic prescriptions originate in the outpatient setting and an estimated 30% are unnecessary. Pharmacists are well positioned to positively impact antibiotic prescribing habits; the role of the community pharmacist in outpatient antibiotic stewardship programs is not well defined.

The objectives of this study were to (1) assess the knowledge of the general public regarding appropriate antibiotic use, and (2) assess the experiences of the general public regarding delayed antibiotic prescriptions.

A cross-sectional survey was administered at community pharmacies in Kansas from September 2018 to January 2019. Eligible individuals were older than 18 years and self-reported their ability to speak and read English. The 22-item survey collected demographics, knowledge regarding appropriate antibiotic use, and participant understanding and experiences of delayed antibiotic prescribing. Descriptive statistics assessed demographics and chi-square compared responses between demographics.

Of 347 surveys completed, respondents were mainly Caucasian (91.6%), female (58.2%), and aged 60 years or older (59.1%). Those with high school education or below were more likely to believe antibiotics kill viruses (43.1% vs 20.9%, respectively; p < 0.01) and that antibiotics work on most coughs and colds (31.4% vs 16.2%, respectively; p = 0.01). Delayed antibiotic prescriptions were more frequently offered to those who had received an antibiotic prescription in the last year compared to those who had not (36.1% vs 15%, p < 0.001).

Gaps in patient knowledge about appropriate antibiotic use and delayed prescribing present an opportunity for community pharmacists to educate patients and become involved in outpatient antibiotic stewardship.