| Literature DB >> 34873939 |
Rixiang Xu1,2,3, Tingyu Mu4, Wang Jian2, Caiming Xu1, Jing Shi2,3.
Abstract
Over-prescription of antimicrobials for patients is a major driver of bacterial resistance. The aim of the present study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and prescription practices regarding antimicrobials among physicians in the Zhejiang province in China, and identify the determining factors. A total of 600 physicians in public county hospitals and township health institutions were surveyed cross-sectionally using a structured electronic questionnaire. The questionnaire was completed by 580 physicians and the response rate was 96.67%. The mean score of 11 terms related to antimicrobial knowledge was 6.81, and an average of 32.1% of patients with upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) were prescribed antimicrobials. Multivariate analysis indicated that young general practitioners with less training are more likely to contribute to more frequent antimicrobial prescriptions (P < .05). In contrast, older physicians with more training are more willing to provide patients with the correct knowledge regarding antimicrobials and less likely to prescribe antimicrobials for URTIs. Correlation analysis showed that the level of physician's knowledge, attitude, and prescription practice is related (P < .05). In conclusion, proper prescription of antimicrobials depends on adequate knowledge and regular training programs for physicians.Entities:
Keywords: antimicrobials; antimicrobials stewardship; individual behavior; knowledge–attitude–practice; social determinants
Mesh:
Substances:
Year: 2021 PMID: 34873939 PMCID: PMC8661115 DOI: 10.1177/00469580211059984
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Inquiry ISSN: 0046-9580 Impact factor: 1.730
Demographic Characteristics of Surveyed Physicians and Their Knowledge, Attitude, and Prescription Practice Toward Antimicrobials.
| Variables | Total, N/mean ± SD | Ignorance, MD/B (95% CI) | Avoidance of responsibility, MD/B (95% CI) | Fear, MD/B (95% CI) | Complacency, MD/B (95% CI) | Prescription behavior, MD/B (95% CI) | Medication guidance, MD/B(95% CI) | Self-learning, MD/B (95% CI) | Knowledge, MD/B (95%CI) | Prescribe Antimicrobials for URTIs, MD/B (95%CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||||||||||
| Female | 252 | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref |
| Male | 328 | −.61 (−.87,−.34)** | −.11 (−.51,0.28) | −.30 (−.67,0.08) | −.12 (−.41,0.17) | −.01 (−.39,0.36) | −.28 (−.66,0.11) | .05 (−.21,0.31) | −.43 (−.73,−.12)** | .03 (−.31,0.37) |
| | 39.74±9.03 | .04 (.03,0.06)** | −.01 (-.03,0.01) | .03 (.01,0.05)** | .03 (.02,0.05)** | .04 (.02,0.06)** | .05 (.03,0.07)** | .02 (.01,0.03)** | .07 (.05,0.08)** | −.04 (−.05,−.02)** |
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| High vocational training and below | 146 | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref |
| Bachelor degree and above | 434 | .42 (.11,0.73)** | −.17 (−.63,0.28) | .21 (−.22,0.63) | .40 (.07,0.73)* | .328 (−.10,0.76) | .49 (.05,0.93)* | .41 (.11,0.70)** | .84 (.50,1.18)** | .17 (−.21,0.56) |
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| Junior doctor | 229 | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref |
| Attending doctor | 188 | .57 (.26,0.88)** | −.31 (−.78,0.15) | −.12 (−.56,0.33) | .05 (−.29,0.39) | .14 (−.30,0.58) | .54 (.086,0.98)* | .22 (−.08,0.53) | 1.09 (.76,1.42) | −.25 (−.65,−.14) |
| Associate senior or senior consultant | 163 | 1.12 (.80,1.44)** | .07 (-.42,0.56) | .03 (-.43,0.49) | .50 (.14,0.85)** | .67 (.22,1.13)** | .66 (.19,1.12)** | .58 (.27,0.90)** | 1.70 (1.35,2.04) | −.50 (−.91,−.09)* |
| | 17.31±10.06 | .04 (.02,0.05)** | −.01 (−.03,0.01) | .03 (.0,0.04)** | .02 (.01,0.04)** | .031 (.01,0.05)** | .04 (.02,0.06)** | .02 (.01,0.03)* | .06 (.05,0.07) | −.03 (−.04,−.01)** |
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| General practitioner | 356 | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref |
| Chinese medical practitioner | 63 | .07 (−.37,0.52) | .30 (−.35,0.95) | 1.01 (.40,1.62)** | .75 (.29,1.22)** | .75 (.14,1.35)* | .19 (−.44,0.82) | .33 (−.10,0.75) | −.37 (−.87,0.13) | −.225 (.77,0.33) |
| Others | 161 | .17 (−.14,0.48) | .49 (.04,0.94) | .35 (−.08,0.77) | .59 (.26,0.91)** | .74 (.32,1.16)** | −.16 (−.60,0.27) | .29 (−.01,0.58) | .01 (−.34,0.35) | −.197 (−.58,0.19) |
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| 0 | 43 | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref |
| 1 | 71 | .85 (.24,1.46)** | −.86 (−1.78,0.06) | −.24 (−1.10,0.63) | −.01 (−.67,0.65) | .55 (−.31,1.41) | .74 (−.14,1.6) | .04 (−.55,0.64) | .98 (.33,1.62)** | .07 (-.69,0.84) |
| 2 | 75 | .94 (.33,1.55)** | −.33 (−1.24,0.58) | .373 (−.48,1.23) | .20 (−.45,0.85) | .46 (−.39,1.31) | .61 (−.26,1.47) | .28 (−.31,0.87) | 1.68 (1.03,2.32)** | −.25 (−1.01,0.51) |
| ≥3 | 391 | 1.41 (.90,1.92)** | −.42 (−1.18,0.34) | .55 (−.17,1.26) | .80 (.24,1.33)** | 1.13 (.41,1.84)** | 1.46 (.74,2.19)** | .70 (.20,1.19)** | 2.35 (1.82,2.90)** | −.87 (−1.51,−.23)** |
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| Township health institutions | 348 | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref |
| Country hospital | 232 | .38 (.11,0.66)** | −.20 (−.60,0.20) | −.15 (−.53,0.23) | .425 (.13,0.72) | .41 (.03,0.79)* | .43 (.04,0.81)* | .40 (.13,0.66)** | 1.18 (.88,1.47)** | −.02 (−.36.0,33) |
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| ≤4000 | 125 | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref | Ref |
| 4001–6000 | 223 | .54 (.18,0.89)** | −.162 (−.69,0.37) | .15 (−.35,0.65) | .32 (−.06,0.71) | .271 (−.23,0.77) | .06 (−.45,0.57) | .14 (−.20,0.49) | .78 (.40,1.17)** | .01 (−.44,0.46) |
| 6001–8000 | 132 | .76 (.37,1.16)** | −.64 (−1.23,−.05)* | −.27 (-.83,0.29) | .19 (-.62,0.24) | .211 (−.35,0.77) | .60 (−.03,1.17) | .59 (.21,0.98)** | 1.18 (.74,1.61)** | .07 (−.43,−.58) |
| ≥ 8001 | 100 | 1.28 (.85,1.70)** | .18 (−.46,0.81) | −.01 (−.62,0.59) | .55 (.08,1.01)* | .408 (−1.01,0.19) | .57 (−.050,1.18) | .53 (.12,0.95)* | 1.61 (1.14,2.08)** | −.22 (−.77,0.32) |
Note: N: number; SD: standard deviation; MD: mean difference; B: regression coefficients; CI: confidence interval; *:P < .05; **:P < .01.
Note: r: Correlation coefficient; *:P < .05; **:P < .01.
Multiple Linear Regression Analysis for the Characteristics Associated With Physicians’ Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice.
| Variables | Ignorance, B (95% CI) | Avoidance of responsibility, B (95% CI) | Fear, B (95% CI) | Complacency, B (95% CI) | Prescription behavior, B (95% CI) | Medication guidance, B (95% CI) | Self-learning, B (95% CI) | Knowledge, B (95% CI) | Prescribe antimicrobials for URTIs, B (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender | −.41 (−.68,−.15)** | −.45 (−.83,−.07)* | |||||||
| Age (years) | .04 (.02,0.06)** | .07 (.02,0.12)** | .03 (.01,0.05)** | .04 (.02,0.06)** | .03 (.01,0.05)** | −.02 (−.04,−.004)* | |||
| Professional title | .39 (.22,0.57)** | .36 (.15,0.56)** | |||||||
| Clinical experience (years) | −.046 (−.09,−.003)* | ||||||||
| Medical sub-specialization | .25 (.03,0.47)* | .28 (.12,0.44)** | .37 (.16,0.58)** | −.21 (−.36,−.06)** | |||||
| Training times | .24 (.09,0.38)** | .24 (.08,0.39)** | .24 (.03,0.44)* | .33 (.12,0.53)** | .23 (.10,0.37)** | .41 (.26,0.57)** | −.37 (−.54,−.20)** | ||
| Types of institute | .83 (.57,1.12)** | ||||||||
| Income | .15 (.02,0.29)* |
Note: B: regression coefficients; CI: confidence interval; *:P < .05; **:P < .01.
Correlation Analysis Between Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice.
| Variables | Ignorance, r | Avoidance of responsibility, r | Fear, r | Complacency, r | Prescription behavior, r | Medication education, r | Self-learning, r | Prescribe antibiotics for URTIs, r |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knowledge | .228** | −.005 | .051 | .141** | .157** | .183** | .129** | −.124** |
| Ignorance | / | / | / | / | .206** | .142** | .101* | −.129** |
| Avoidance | / | / | / | / | .103* | −.109** | −.068 | −.07 |
| Fear | / | / | / | / | .513** | .039 | .015 | −.407** |
| Complacency | / | / | / | / | .543** | .149** | .105* | −.430** |
Note: r: Correlation coefficient; *:P < .05; **:P < .01.