Assessment of knowledge, attitudes, and practice regarding antibiotic self-treatment use among COVID-19 patients

Self-medication with antibiotics is a common practice across different age groups and different cultures that can cause problems such as drug resistance, side effects, and rising costs for the healthcare system community. During the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), people with mild symptoms have avoided seeing a doctor, preferring to self-medicate. The impact of self-medication in COVID-19 patients is an important public health issue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of, attitudes toward, and performance of self-medication with antibiotics in COVID-19 patients.

This cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with COVID-19. Participants were selected by random sampling. A survey of knowledge, attitude and practice of taking antibiotics in patients with COVID-19 was conducted. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 software.

The prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics in patients with COVID-19 was 56.1%. Most COVID-19 patients have the overall knowledge, attitude and practice score of self-medication with antibiotics. There was a significant difference between the knowledge and attitudes of educated and uneducated patients (p<0.01). Of the demographic variables, there was no significant difference between sexes in terms of attitude and practice of antibiotic self-medication in COVID-19 patients (p>0.05).

Considering the high prevalence of antibiotic self-medication in COVID-19 patients, it is recommended to provide the necessary education and practical means of reducing the amount of antibiotic self-medication.