Abstract

PARENTE, Nuno Miguel. PARIC - Patients’ perception on antibiotic use, Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control. Rev Port Med Geral Fam [online]. 2019, vol.35, n.5, pp.346-359. ISSN 2182-5173.  https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v35i5.12630.

Objective: To characterize the knowledge about practices inherent to antibiotics, the conceptualization of antimicrobial drug resistance (ADR), infection control and to ascertain the existence of a relationship between the information on ADR and remaining variables. Type of study: Observational, transversal and analytical. Location: USF Viver Mais. Population: Patients enrolled in USF Viver Mais with 18-69 years (n=6,952). Methods: Anonymous questionnaire applied to a sample of 365 patients. It included demographic variables as age, sex, and schooling, present in Part I, and 15 simple choice questions in Part II. Results: There was greater representation of the female sex (61.9%), the group with 45-54 years and schooling ≥ 12^th year. Most recognized the role of antimicrobials (AB) in viral infections and more than 70% identified AB as antipyretic and anti-inflammatory drugs. The primary indication for AB was sore throat with a duration ≥ 5 days and nearly 89% agreed to use AB from family/friends. About 50% considered it important to hand hygiene after contact with a health institution and 69.4% after contact with respiratory secretions. The recognition of ADR was verified in 58.1% of the patients, in which 50% perceived it as a personal and family problem. Over 88% conceptualized RAB as a failure of the body’s response to AB. There was a relationship between information on ADR and schooling; knowledge about AB effect on autochthonous flora; adequacy of AB to cold, influenza and sore throat; the suspected need for AB by the patient; the decision to initiate AB by the physician and confidence in the non-prescribing physician (p<0.05). Conclusions: In general, the patients showed low knowledge in several areas, although it is overlapping with the literature. In this way, the family doctor can direct his actions to adequate information about the concept of RAB and implications in the ecosystem.

Keywords : Bacterial drug resistance; Anti-bacterial agents; Infection control; Health literacy.

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