ASSESSMENT OF THE KNOWLEDGE ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TOWARDS THE RATIONAL USE OF ANTIBIOTICS IN SAINT PAUL’S HOSPITAL MILLENIUM MEDICAL COLLEGE.

Abstract

SUMMARY Background: Antibiotics are frequently prescribed in clinical practice. Emergence of antibiotic resistant microorganisms due to excessive and indiscriminate use of these drugs is a serious issue which is plaguing healthcare delivery throughout the world. Available literature highlights the necessity of rationalization of antimicrobial therapy in developing countries along with educational interventions and a strict antibiotic policy and reported good knowledge among health professionals which could not be translated into practice as inappropriateness of antibiotic prescribing was observed in these studies. This gap in execution of knowledge could be bridged by effective interventions and promoting rational antibiotic use. Objective: This study was planned to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of health professionals towards the rational use of antibiotics in Saint Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College. Methods: A cross sectional, institutional based descriptive study was conducted on knowledge, attitude and practice among 330 health professionals including medical doctors’ health officers and pharmacist towards the rational use of antibiotics in Saint Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College from January 06, 2017 up to June 30, 2017 G.C.. Results: Three hundred study subjects were participated using questionnaire most of the study subjects were physicians, Oromo 40%, male 60%. 85% have moderate knowledge, 64% have negative attitude and 71% have moderate practice towards rational use of antibiotics. Conclusions: The study found that a majority of the health professionals have moderate knowledge and moderate practice and negative attitude towards the rational use of antibiotics. The study concluded that the socio demographic factors except educational status of the respondents has shown association with the level knowledge, attitude and practice of health professionals towards the rational use of antibiotics. Recommendation: Outcome based education could be an effective approach to bridge the gap from knowledge to practice and more importantly the significance of following guidelines for the empirical therapy. Key words: antibiotics, rational, knowledge, attitude, practice, resistance