Outcomes of Antibiotic Smart Use Program in Governmental Health Service Settings in Phanna Nikhom, Sakon Nakhon

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of the program on antibiotics smart use in two target diseases i.e., acute upper respiratory tract infection (URI) and acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in governmental health facilities in Phanna Nikhom, Sakon Nakhon Method: This research was a pre- and post-test study in one group of sample. Subjects were 98 medical personnel in health service network of Phanna Nikhom district who participated in the training of antibiotics smart use once a year for 3 consecutive years. The subjects completed the questionnaire to measure changes in knowledge, understanding and attitudes towards target diseases. Researchers evaluated rational use of antibiotics with the Electronic Tool program and measured the quantity of herbal drugs prescribed. Results: After the training, the subjects had a better understanding of rational use of antibiotic (P<0.001), and more positive attitudes toward non-antibiotic use in the two target diseases (P<0.001). The rate of irrational use of antibiotic in URI from 2013-2016 decreased (51.9, 29.9, 16.6 and 9.2 percent, respectively) (P<0.05). The rate of antibiotic overuse or irrational use in AGE during 2013-2016 decreased (45.7, 20.1, 9.9 and 4.6 percent, respectively) (P<0.05). The value of antibiotic use in governmental health institutions decreased by 23.4 percent, while the value of herbal drugs to substitute antibiotics increased by 96.4 percent (P<0.05). Conclusion: Medical personnel had a better knowledge, understanding and attitudes towards the rational use of antibiotics in the two target diseases, resulting in the decrease of unnecessary antibiotic use. The use of herbal antibiotics to replace antibiotics in governmental health institutions increased, while the value of antibiotic use decreased significantly.