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Healthcare workers’ knowledge, attitudes and behaviours with respect to antibiotics, antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance across 30 EU/EEA countries in 2019
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View Affiliations Hide AffiliationsDiane Ashiru-Oredopediane.ashiru-oredope phe.gov.uk
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#ECDCAntibioticSurvey Project Advisory Group: Reinhild Strauss, Vinciane Charlier, Samuel Coenen, Miranda Sertić, Marina Payerl-Pal, Linos Hadjihannas, Costas A. Constantinou, Barbora Macková, Lisa Bugge-Toft, Pille Märtin, Mailis Hansen, Outi Lyytikäinen, Jari Jalava, Anne Berger-Carbonne, Mélanie Colomb-Cotinat, Flora Kontopidou, Maria Foteinea, Martin Cormican, Audrey Lambourn, Francesca Furiozzi, Michela Sabbatucci, Elīna Dimiņa, Kate Vulāne, Virginija Kanapeckienė, Jolanta Kuklytė, Peter Zarb, Michael A. Borg, Renske Eilers, Harald Pors Muniz, Waleria Hryniewicz, Beata Mazińska, Duarte Pedro De Sousa Tavares, Livia Cioran, Alexandra Cucu, Eva Schreterova, Mitja Vrdelja, Maja Subelj, Rocío Bueno Parralo, Antonio López Navas, Agneta Andersson, Karin Carlin, Jacqui Reilly, Diane Ashiru-Oredope, Lea Pfefferle, Petr Horák, Steffen Amann, Andreas Trobisch, Lenneke Schrier, Tanguy Pinedo-Tora, Alyette Greiveldinger, Elena Carrara, Nico T. Mutters, Charles Price, Mathias Maucher, Michele Calabrò, Pascal Garel, Laurie Andrieu, Laura Alonso Irujo, María Santacreu García, Kitty Mohan, Sara Launio, Orsolya Réka Süli, Ivana Silva, Mervi Jokinen, Marta Simões, Ruben Viegas, Ann Marie Borg, Sascha Marschang, Céline Pulcini, Ber Oomen, Jeannette Verkerk, Ilaria Giannico, Paul Garassus, Roberto Bertollini, Melina Raso, Tímea Rezi-Kató, Jan De Belie, Ilaria Passarani, Jacques de Haller, Carole Rouaud, Jo Bosanquet, Wendy Nicholson, Cristiana SalviView Citation Hide Citation
Citation style for this article: . Healthcare workers’ knowledge, attitudes and behaviours with respect to antibiotics, antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance across 30 EU/EEA countries in 2019. Euro Surveill. 2021;26(12):pii=1900633. https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.12.1900633 Received: 14 Oct 2019; Accepted: 08 May 2020
Abstract
While several studies have assessed knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of the public, physicians and medical students in a number of EU/EEA countries with respect to antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance, there is a paucity of literature for other healthcare workers. This survey aimed to fill this gap.
A 43-item online questionnaire was developed, validated and pilot-tested through a modified Delphi consensus process involving 87 Project Advisory Group (PAG) members, including national representatives and members of European health professional groups. The survey was distributed by the PAG and via social media to healthcare workers in 30 EU/EEA countries.
Respondents (n = 18,365) from 30 EU/EEA countries participated. Knowledge of antibiotics and antibiotic use was higher (97%) than knowledge of development and spread of antibiotic resistance (75%). Sixty percent of respondents stated they had received information on avoiding unnecessary prescribing, administering or dispensing of antibiotics. Among respondents who prescribed, administered or dispensed antibiotics, 55% had provided advice on prudent antibiotic use or management of infections to patients, but only 17% had given resources (leaflets or pamphlets). For community and hospital prescribers, fear of patient deterioration or complications was the most frequent reason (43%) for prescribing antibiotics that were considered unnecessary. Community prescribers were almost twice as likely as hospital prescribers to prescribe antibiotics due to time constraints or to maintain patient relationships.
It is important to move from raising awareness about prudent antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance among healthcare workers to designing antimicrobial stewardship interventions aimed at changing relevant behaviours.
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