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Published on: August 30, 2018
Opinions of Medical Staff Regarding Antibiotic Resistance
Aneta Krolak-Ulińska1, Piotr Merks2,3, Urszula Religioni4
1Anestesiology and Intensive Care Unit, Węgrów Regional Hospital, ul. Tadeusza Kościuszki 201, 07-100 Węgrów, Poland.
Introduction:
Antibiotic resistance poses a significant threat to public health, that can lead to reduced effectiveness of many therapies, increased morbidity, longer hospitalization times, increased deaths, and additional costs for health care systems. Unreasonable use of antibiotics may result from a lack of adequate knowledge about antibiotic therapy and a lack of knowledge of the risks associated with antibiotic resistance, both among medical personnel and patients.
Aim:
The primary objective of the study was to verify the opinion of medical personnel on the risks associated with antibiotic resistance.
Material And Methods:
The study was conducted in 2023 among 605 Polish sanitary workers. An anonymous survey designed specifically for the purpose of the study was used. The survey was made available on the Internet through the Trade Unions of Pharmacy Workers and directly to hospitals with the support of local authorities.
Results:
The majority of respondents were women (77.36%). The largest group consisted of individuals over 40 years of age (55.04%). More than half of the respondents were nurses (56.20%), and every fourth of the respondents was a physician (23.64%). Most respondents consider antibiotic resistance to be a very serious (24.13%) or extremely serious (30.75%) problem. The problem of antibiotic resistance on a global scale was mentioned, especially in the opinions of physicians and nurses (p < 0.01), people working in the profession for over a year (p < 0.01), and people with a specialization or undergoing specialist training (p = 0.00). Similarly, these groups most often indicated that antibiotic resistance poses a problem in their workplace. The main problems of antibiotic resistance were the use of antibiotics in farm animals (36.69%), the pressure on patients to take antibiotics (38.84%), and the prophylactic use of antibiotics (43.15%).
Conclusions:
Medical personnel consider antibiotic resistance a somewhat serious problem, although not all agree in this regard. The risk of antibiotic resistance is much more seriously assessed by physicians and nurses, as well as by people with specializations or undergoing specialization training. Knowledge about antibiotic resistance should be further spread among all groups of medical personnel.
Insights
Antibiotic resistance is a serious public health threat. While many medical professionals recognize the risks, physicians and nurses, along with those in specialized training, perceive the threat more acutely.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Antibiotic resistance is a significant global health concern, leading to increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs.
- Inadequate knowledge regarding antibiotic therapy and resistance risks among healthcare professionals and the public contributes to the problem.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the perceptions of Polish medical personnel regarding the risks associated with antibiotic resistance.
- To identify specific concerns and contributing factors to antibiotic resistance as viewed by healthcare workers.
Main Methods:
- A 2023 anonymous online survey was administered to 605 Polish sanitary workers.
- Participants included nurses, physicians, and other healthcare professionals, with data collected via professional trade unions and hospital networks.
Main Results:
- Over 77% of respondents were women, and 55% were over 40. Nurses constituted the largest group (56.20%), followed by physicians (23.64%).
- A majority (over 54%) considered antibiotic resistance a very or extremely serious problem.
- Physicians, nurses, and those with specializations more frequently recognized antibiotic resistance as a global and workplace issue. Key concerns included antibiotic use in animals, patient pressure to prescribe, and prophylactic use.
Conclusions:
- Medical personnel acknowledge antibiotic resistance as a serious issue, with higher concern levels noted among physicians, nurses, and those undergoing specialization.
- There is a need for enhanced education on antibiotic resistance across all medical professional groups to mitigate risks and improve antibiotic stewardship.
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