Knowledge, Attitude and Practice about Antibiotic Use and Antimicrobial Resistance among Nurses
Author(s) : Kalsoom AbdulRazaq, Muhammad Abu Bakr Shabbir, Nusrat Shafi, Muhammad Asaf Khan, Nida Shahid, Muhammad Asif Raza & Aziz Ul-Rahman
Abstract:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52587/njhms.v6i1.86Objective:
This study aims to investigate the factors associated with knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) in relation to antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) prevention among nurses in secondary and tertiary care hospitals in Multan, Pakistan.
Materials and Methods:
A cross-sectional survey was conducted from March 2023 to January 2024 using a self-administered, semi-structured questionnaire. The questionnaire included demographic characteristics and selected components on antibiotic use and AMR prevention.
Results:
A total of 341 nurses, predominantly female (86.8%), participated and completed the questionnaires. Regarding knowledge, 59.3% of nurses were unaware that antibiotics cannot treat viral infections. Additionally, 68% of nurses did not know about the association between antibiotic efficacy and resistance. Overall, 54.8% of nurses had a moderate level of knowledge regarding antibiotic resistance, 26.9% had good knowledge, and 18.1% had poor knowledge. In terms of attitude, participants scored a mean of 2 on a scale of 1 to 5 regarding self-administration of antibiotics for general flu symptoms and a mean score of 2.1 for using antibiotics without a prescription. The results revealed a non-significant association (p>0.05) between knowledge and attitude (r=0.021 and p=0.169) of nurse regarding antimicrobial resistance
Conclusion:
The findings of this study highlight the urgent need for tailored educational interventions, antibiotic stewardship, and training programs for healthcare providers in Pakistan.
Keywords: Antibiotic Abuse, Antimicrobial Resistance, Prevention, Nurses