Healthcare Experts' Perspectives on Antibiotic Use and Antibiotic Resistance

Antimicrobial resistance develops as a result of the improper use of antibiotics and has detrimental effects. Healthcare practitioners' perceptions of how antimicrobial medications are used to treat infections were unclear. Therefore, the current study's objective is to evaluate healthcare professionals' attitudes and practices about antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance in Riyadh and included an online survey that was prepared using Google forms and disseminated on social media. More than 81% of the respondents agreed that antibiotic abuse is the main cause of bacterial resistance and more than 80% of the healthcare workers agreed that it is necessary to establish a course on the rational use of antibiotics at the university level. More than 80% of the respondents agreed that they do not take antibiotics without a prescription when they get a fever, they are not expecting their doctors to prescribe antibiotics if they have symptoms of the common cold, and that they usually do not share antibiotics with sick family members and friends. The majority of healthcare professionals in the present day displayed positive views and good practices about the usage of antibiotics in general Nonetheless, few healthcare professionals had poor attitudes and practices. To support healthcare professionals in developing a positive attitude and good practices toward antibiotic usage, it is crucial to put in place the proper interventions.

Automated summary

This study investigated the attitudes and practices of healthcare professionals regarding antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance through an online survey disseminated on social media. The findings showed that the majority of respondents recognized antibiotic abuse as the main cause of bacterial resistance and believed in the importance of educational courses on rational antibiotic use. Additionally, most participants reported responsible behavior such as not taking antibiotics without a prescription and not sharing antibiotics with others.