Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Awareness Regarding Antimicrobial Resistance and Antibiotic Prescribing Behaviour among Physicians: Results from a Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey in India

Version 1 : Received: 30 August 2023 / Approved: 31 August 2023 / Online: 31 August 2023 (13:13:54 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Mittal, N.; Goel, P.; Goel, K.; Sharma, R.; Nath, B.; Singh, S.; Thangaraju, P.; Mittal, R.; Kahkasha; Mithra, P.; Sahu, R.; Priyadarshini, R.P.; Sharma, N.; Pala, S.; Rohilla, S.K.; Kaushal, J.; Sah, S.; Rustagi, S.; Sah, R.; Barboza, J.J. Awareness Regarding Antimicrobial Resistance and Antibiotic Prescribing Behavior among Physicians: Results from a Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey in India. Antibiotics 2023, 12, 1496. Mittal, N.; Goel, P.; Goel, K.; Sharma, R.; Nath, B.; Singh, S.; Thangaraju, P.; Mittal, R.; Kahkasha; Mithra, P.; Sahu, R.; Priyadarshini, R.P.; Sharma, N.; Pala, S.; Rohilla, S.K.; Kaushal, J.; Sah, S.; Rustagi, S.; Sah, R.; Barboza, J.J. Awareness Regarding Antimicrobial Resistance and Antibiotic Prescribing Behavior among Physicians: Results from a Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey in India. Antibiotics 2023, 12, 1496.

Abstract

Background: Understanding the physicians’ knowledge, attitudes and antimicrobial prescribing behaviour is a crucial step towards designing strategies for optimal use of these agents. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among clinicians across India between “May to July 2022” using a self-administered questionnaire in English comprising of 35 questions pertaining to demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude and practices domains. Results. A total of 544 responses were received from 710 physicians contacted. 60 percent participants were males with mean age of 34.7 years. Mean ± SD scores for knowledge, attitude and practices domains were 8±1.6, 20.2±3.5 and 15.3±2.1, respectively. Higher scores were associated with basic [odds ratio (95% C.I.), P value: 2.95 (1.21, 7.2), 0.02], medical and allied sciences [2.71 (1.09, 6.67), 0.03] and central zone [3.75 (1.39, 10.12), 0.009]. A substantial proportion of dissatisfactory responses were found regarding hospital antibiograms, antibiotics effective against anaerobes, WHO AWaRe classification of antibiotics, and role of infection prevention and control (IPC) measures in containment of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Conclusions. There is a need to sensitize and educate clinicians on various issues related to antimicrobial use such as antibiograms, double anaerobic cover, IPC practices and guideline-based recommendations to curb the AMR pandemic.

Keywords

antimicrobial resistance, stewardship, antibiograms, prescribing practices.

Subject

Public Health and Healthcare, Public Health and Health Services

Comments (0)

We encourage comments and feedback from a broad range of readers. See criteria for comments and our Diversity statement.

Leave a public comment
Send a private comment to the author(s)
* All users must log in before leaving a comment
Views 0
Downloads 0
Comments 0


×
Alerts
Notify me about updates to this article or when a peer-reviewed version is published.
We use cookies on our website to ensure you get the best experience.
Read more about our cookies here.