KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES OF ANTIBIOTICS PRESCRIPTION AMONG RESIDENT DOCTORS IN AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL (ABUTH) ZARIA, NIGERIA
KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES OF ANTIBIOTICS PRESCRIPTION AMONG RESIDENT DOCTORS IN AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL (ABUTH) ZARIA, NIGERIA
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Date
2012-04
Authors
BASHIR, Popoola-Zakariyya
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Abstract
Background: Assessment of the knowledge, attitudes and practice of resident doctors
and medical officers in ABUTH Zaria, on antibiotics prescription in order to develop
interventions to improve antimicrobial resistance.
Methods: A total of 309 respondents was surveyed using a 30 stem questionnaire which
was distributed to residents doctors and medical officers in ABUTH Zaria,
Results: A total of 251 (81.3%) responded to the survey from 17 different departments
which was grouped into six specialties, only 106 (42.2%) of the respondents indicated
they had worked in infectious disease unit (IDU), 212 (84.5%) acknowledged they were
aware of rational drug use (RDU), while 233 (92.8%) indicated they were aware of
national drug formulary (NDF), of those who knew about NDF, only 101 (40.2%)
routinely use NDF to aid their prescription.
Majority 200 (79.7%) of the respondents do not know the hospital antimicrobial
susceptibility pattern. Even though 204 (98.8%) of the respondents indicated they had
prescribed antibiotics in the past six months, 123 (49.2%) admitted prescribing greater
than five antibiotics in the past seven days pre survey. Many 161 (64.7%) of the
respondents believed it is the responsibility of the doctors to explain to patients how to
take the antibiotics prescribed, this show a significant relationship between designations
of respondents, (χ2, p=0.038). Majority 232 (92.8%) of the respondents acknowledged
antibiotics resistance as a national problem, 213 (85.2%) indicated it as a problem in their
clinical practice, while 197 (79.1%) believe it is a problem in the hospital. The
knowledge that antibiotics resistance is a problem in the hospital is influenced by the
level of residency training, which shows a significant relationship (χ2, p=0.003). Only 32
(13.6%) and 26 (10.4%) of respondents have the knowledge of WHO prevalence of
inappropriate antibiotics use and Methicillin resistance Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA),
a significant relationship was found with respect to level of training (designation) of
respondents, (χ2, p=0.035). Four factors were considered as potential cause of antibiotics
resistance, too low dose of antibiotics prescription, too many broad spectrum of
antibiotics prescription, too long duration of antibiotics. A significant relationship (χ2,
p=0.022) was found between respondents designation and their perception of long
duration of antibiotics usage as an important cause of antibiotics resistance. Respondents
indicate educational session on prescription and availability of local or national guideline
as most helpful in improving antibiotics prescription. Speaking to pharmaceutical
representative and restriction of prescription of all antibiotics were considered as
unhelpful in improving antibiotics prescription.
Conclusions: This study revealed the respondents have some knowledge on some of the
important causes of resistance to antibiotics, that the hospital do not have an antibiogram
for antibiotics sensitivity, and that a formal education on antibiotics prescription is
required. These data provides helpful information for the design of strategies to optimize
adherence to good antibiotics prescription.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD
OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN PHARMACOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOLOGY AND THERAPEUTICS,
FACULTY OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,
ZARIA, NIGERIA
Keywords
KNOWLEDGE,, ATTITUDES,, PRACTICES,, ANTIBIOTICS PRESCRIPTION,, RESIDENT DOCTORS,, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL,, ZARIA,, NIGERIA.