Knowledge Attitudes and Behaviors Regarding Antibiotic Smart Use Among Patients with 3 Infectious Diseases in Nong Muang Khai Hospital

Abstract

Objective: To determine knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors on rational use of antibiotics in patients with 3 self-limiting infectious diseases with antibiotics-free treatment in Nong Muang Khai Hospital. Methods: This research was a mixed method study. For the quantitative research, data were collected from 276 purposively sampled patients using questionnaires about knowledge, attitudes and behaviors on antibiotic smart use (ASU). For qualitative research, data were collected from 30 informants in the quantitative study who received the service in the past 6 months with 3 self-limiting infectious diseases. The interview topics included seeking behavior for self-medication after antibiotic-free treatment, satisfaction with antibiotic-free treatment at the hospital, satisfaction with advice or reasons for antibiotic-free treatment, and satisfaction with services provided by the hospital's staff regarding antibiotic-free treatment. Results: The patients had a mean score of knowledge on ASU of 10.19 ± 1.74 (total score of 13), a mean score of attitudes towards ASU of 44.54 ± 5.63 (total score of 60) and a mean score of behavior on ASU of 14.56 ± 2.51 (total score of 20). Knowledge on ASU was positively correlated with attitudes towards ASU (r=0.40, P<0.01) and behaviors on ASU (r=0.41, P<0.01). Attitudes towards ASU were significantly and positively correlated with behaviors on ASU (r=0.431, P<0.01). Interviews from 3 self-limiting infectious diseases patients with antibiotics-free treatment in Nong Muang Khai Hospital found that 76.6% of them did not buy antibiotics for self-medication, while 23.7% bought antibiotics for self-medication within 1-2 days after antibiotic-free treatment. Conclusion: The findings from this study demonstrated a significant and positive correlation between knowledge, attitudes, and behavior regarding ASU. In order to have proper actions in ASU, it is therefore advised that public education be used to increase knowledge regarding ASU.