European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

KNOWLEDGE AND PRESCRIBING PRACTICE OF PHYSICIANS TOWARD ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE IN HEALTHCARE SETTING, DIYALA, IRAQ

Shaima’a Rahem Al-Salihy (M.Sc)*, Adawia Fadhel Abbaas (Ph.D) and Zahra’a Abdul-Razaq Ali

ABSTRACT

Background: Antimicrobial resistance has increasingly become one of the most critical public health issue. The prescribing behavior of physicians plays a key role in controlling and reduction of antimicrobial resistance. Aims of the study: We aimed to assess knowledge and prescribing practice of physicians at our healthcare settings. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in Baquba teaching hospital and Al-Batool teaching hospital for Maternity and Pediatrics in Diyala province, Iraq, during the period from 1st October 2017 to 1st February 2018. Self-administrated questionnaire were used to assess knowledge and prescribing practice of our physicians. Results: A total of 117 physicians agreed to participate in the current study with a response rate of (95.1%). The college curricula was significantly the major source of information (37.7%), while WHO and MOH guidelines were the least, (3.5%) and (0.9%), respectively. According to Bloom’s Cut Off Point the respondents have good to moderate level of knowledge about most of quiz questions. Since, the ratios of correct answers were high generally. About one half of respondents were aware about antimicrobial resistance as a global problem and also in our setting, 56 (49.1%) and 55(48.2%), respectively. Regarding factors behind antibiotic resistance, 68 (59.6%) of the respondents were suggest multifactorial causes. However, self-prescription ranked highest with 19(16.7%) followed by treatment discontinuation 18(15.8%) as the major causes. Honestly and precisely, 48 (42.1%) of the respondents negate fulfillment of the disinfection program. Again, about one half 68 (59.6%) of the respondents acknowledged the necessity of culture and antibiotic susceptibility test if bacterial pathogen suspected. However, only 33(28.9%) do it frequently. Conclusion: creation of innovative strategies to attract physicians' attention about antimicrobial resistance prevention.

Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance, Antibiotic Prescription, Knowledge, prescribing practice.