Knowledge and Attitudes of Patients About the Rational Use of Antibiotics

Antimicrobial resistance can lead to morbidity and mortality in serious infections. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of patients admitted to the outpatient clinics of our hospital about the rational use of antibiotics.

Patients who applied to Infectious Diseases and Internal Diseases Polyclinics between August 01, 2021 and February 01, 2022 were included. After obtaining written consent from those who agreed to participate in the study, a face-to-face questionnaire was applied to evaluate their knowledge and attitudes about antibiotic use.

A total of 735 patients were included in the study; 64.1% were women, and the mean age was 40±15 years. The median of the total correct score on the scale measuring the patients' knowledge level in the study was 5. It was determined that individuals who scored 5 or less did not have sufficient knowledge, and those who scored above 5 had sufficient knowledge. Female gender, being single, being a university graduate, and having a middle income were associated with sufficient knowledge level (p<0.05). The rates of self-starting or using antibiotics until the complaints subsided were higher in the group with insufficient knowledge (p<0.05).

The knowledge level of our patients regarding antibiotic use provided better results in all parameters, such as the number of visits to the doctor, self-starting antibiotics, using the antibiotic in the appropriate indication, and complying with the duration. The knowledge level was found to be associated with the appropriate antibiotic use.