Population knowledge and awareness of antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance: results from national household survey 2019 and changes from 2017

Abstract Background Lack of knowledge and awareness on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) can result in irrational use of antibiotics, which is one of the major drivers of AMR. One goal of the Thailand National Strategic Plan on AMR (2017-2021) is a 20% increase in public knowledge and awareness of antibiotic use and AMR by 2021. This study assesses antibiotic use, level of knowledge and awareness of antibiotic use and AMR and the factors associated with their knowledge and awareness in the Thai population in 2019. It compares findings with a similar national survey in 2017. Methods An AMR module was integrated into the Health and Welfare Survey, a biennial national household survey conducted by the National Statistical Office since 2017. The 2019 survey took place in March, through face-to-face interviews with 27,900 Thai adults aged 15 years or above who participated in the survey and compares 2019 findings with those from 2017. Results One month prior to the survey, 6.3% of population reported use of antibiotics (reduced from 7.9% to 2017), of which 98.1% received antibiotics through healthcare professionals and almost half (43.2%) for flu symptoms. During the last 12 months, 21.5% of Thai adults received information on the appropriate use of antibiotics and AMR (increased from 17.8% to 2017); mostly through health professionals (82.7%). On knowledge, 24.3% of adults gave correct answers to more than three out of six statements (three true and three false statements) (increased from 23.7% to 2017). The overall mean score of awareness of appropriate antibiotic use and AMR is 3.3 out of total score of 5. Conclusions Although progress was made on knowledge and awareness between 2017 and 2019, certain practices, such as use of antibiotics for flu symptoms and receiving information about antibiotic use and AMR, are inappropriate and inadequate. These findings require significant action, notably strengthening health professionals’ ability to prescribe and dispense antibiotics appropriately and effective communication with patients. The government should promote specific information on rational use of antibiotics and AMR to specific target groups.

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Patterns of Alcohol Consumption in the Thai Population: Results of the National Household Survey of 2007

Alcohol and Alcoholism ◽

10.1093/alcalc/agq018 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 45 (3) ◽

pp. 278-285 ◽

Cited By ~ 54

Author(s):

S. Assanangkornchai ◽

N. Sam-Angsri ◽

S. Rerngpongpan ◽

A. Lertnakorn

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Household Survey ◽

Thai Population ◽

National Household Survey

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Australian Government attempts at regulatory and other control of antimicrobial resistance

Microbiology Australia ◽

10.1071/ma07198 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 28 (4) ◽

pp. 198

Author(s):

John Turnidge

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Research Council ◽

Medical Research Council ◽

Working Party ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Australian Government ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

The Government ◽

To Receive ◽

Species Being

Antimicrobial resistance has been on the government agenda in Australia since the early 1980s. At that time the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) established a working party composed of human and veterinary microbiologists to look at antibiotic use and, in particular, the risks of using them in stockfeed. This action was taken in response to continuing reports from overseas, particularly the United Kingdom, of resistant and multi-resistant Salmonella species being selected in food animals and spread to humans. The working party report made a number of regulatory recommendations in terms of resistance surveillance and scheduling. None of these recommendations were adopted directly, but the national regulators continued to call on NHMRC for advice and in various guises the NHMRC maintained a working group on antibiotics and resistance until 1997, when it was decided that antimicrobial resistance was no longer a priority issue. As the regulators still wished to receive advice, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) took temporary responsibility for maintaining the expertise or the working party.

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Knowledge and behavior of consumers towards the non-prescription purchase of antibiotics: An insight from a qualitative study from New Delhi, India

Pharmacy Practice ◽

10.18549/pharmpract.2021.1.2206 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 2206

Author(s):

Anita Kotwani ◽

Jyoti Joshi ◽

Anjana S. Lamkang ◽

Ayushi Sharma ◽

Deeksha Kaloni

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Health Concern ◽

Public Healthcare ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Self Medication ◽

Middle Income ◽

Awareness Campaigns ◽

The Government ◽

And Behavior

Background: In Low-and Middle-Income Countries, including India, consumers often purchase antibiotics over-the-counter (OTC) from retail pharmacies. This practice leads to the inappropriate use of antibiotics in the community which is an important driver for the development of antimicrobial resistance. A better understanding of consumers’ views towards this grave public health concern is critical to developing evidence-based intervention programs for awareness among the general population. Objective: To explore knowledge, practice and, behavior of consumers towards antibiotics, antibiotic use, antimicrobial resistance, purchasing behavior of consumers for antibiotics, and to gain insight which will help in developing evidence-based policy interventions. Methods: 72 in-depth consumer interviews were conducted in all 11 districts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. The qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Our study found that retail pharmacies were the first point of consultation for common ailments for patients/consumers once home remedies failed; they were largely unaware of the threat of antimicrobial resistance. Consumers’ knowledge of antibiotic use and about antimicrobial resistance was low, they used old prescriptions, and bought antibiotics OTC to save time and money. Despite the presence of regulations constituted to regulate the sale of antibiotics by the Government and the implementation of national campaigns, the practice of self-medication and behaviors such as OTC purchase, non-adherence to prescribed antibiotics was prevalent. Consumers perceive that antibiotics provide quick relief and accelerate the curing process and retail pharmacy shops try to protect their retail business interests by honoring old prescriptions and self-medication for antibiotics. Conclusions: The lack of awareness and insufficient knowledge about what antibiotics are and issues such as antimicrobial resistance or antibiotic resistance resulted in misuse of antibiotics by consumers. Limited access to public healthcare and affordability of private healthcare are factors that contribute towards the self-medication/OTC purchase of antibiotics. The regular misuse of antibiotics through irrational use reinforces the need for strong enactment of strategies like continuous community awareness campaigns. Mitigation efforts should focus upon educating consumers continuously and sustainably for the understanding of antibiotic misuse, antimicrobial resistance, and promote better compliance with regulations.

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Optimising the use of antimicrobial medicines in Sudan

Journal of Pharmaceutical Research ◽

10.33140/jpr.06.01.01 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Quality Management System ◽

Action Plan ◽

Animal Health ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

World Health ◽

Monitoring And Control ◽

Public And Private ◽

Existing Structures ◽

The Government

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been a priority area identified by the Government of Sudan and development partners. This paper is part of a study in Sudan using the available documents covering relevant fields pertaining to AMR and interviews with key informants from World Health Organization (WHO) office Sudan, Federal Ministry of Health and other relevant entities. Documents were obtained from related websites for policies, strategies, guidelines, reports, and plans as well relevant international and government agencies in Khartoum. The study was guided by the WHO’s five strategic objectives of Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance. This paper focuses on the fourth objective on optimising the use of antimicrobial medicines in human health and animal health. The study revealed the presence of numerous policies and guidelines on antibiotic use and generic prescribing at different levels with little evidence of their implementation. There were a lack of supervisory or monitoring systems to ensure proper and rational prescribing, and appropriate dispensing of antimicrobials in both public and private sectors. The system is weakened due to low capacity for monitoring and checking as a result of limited resources both in terms of human resources, skills, tools and quality checks to ensure the quality of medicines post-marketing. There is a need to set up a quality management system within the existing structures for the distribution, prescription and dispensing of antibiotics in both public and private institutions. The system should clearly define the processes and provide adequate resources to ensure appropriate monitoring and control of antibiotic distribution, prescription and dispensing

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Assessment of Brazilian pharmacists’ knowledge about antimicrobial resistance

The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries ◽

10.3855/jidc.4853 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 9 (03) ◽

pp. 239-243 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Fernando de Sa Del Fiol ◽

Silvio Barberato-Filho ◽

Luciane Cruz Lopes ◽

Cristiane da Cassia Bergamaschi ◽

Rodrigo Boscariol

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Bacterial Resistance ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

New Drugs ◽

Community Pharmacies ◽

Level Of Knowledge ◽

Scientific Meetings ◽

Educational Campaigns

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AR) is a multifaceted problem of global significance. In addition to developing new drugs and using antimicrobial guidelines, it is essential that health professionals understand all aspects of the problem and the most effective ways to handle it. This study evaluated pharmacists’ level of knowledge about bacterial resistance and antibiotic use in Brazil. Methodology: The study was conducted using a survey provided electronically to pharmacists in São Paulo State, Brazil. Results: In total, 754 pharmacists completed the survey. The majority of the pharmacists were young (under 30 years of age), female, and worked in community pharmacies. Pharmacists who worked in hospital or community pharmacies reported a greater AR interference in their work than did pharmacists working in other locations (p < 0.05). With respect to factors that contribute to AR, pharmacists placed little weight on the role of inadequate hand washing or lack of immunization campaigns. The pharmacists also believed that vaccination was of limited value in combating AR and instead placed the highest value on educational campaigns. The study showed that pharmacists who used package inserts and advertising material as their source for updated information had a poorer understanding of the appropriate use of antibiotics than did those who obtained their information from scientific journals, textbooks, or scientific meetings. Conclusions: The results highlight the need for adequate information regarding AR to reach health professionals such as pharmacists. Governments should promote campaigns for integrated actions to combat the serious global problem presented by AR.

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