The knowledge and perceptions regarding antibiotic stewardship of the interns rotating at the Bloemfontein Academic Complex

Background: Antibiotic resistance (ABR) is a global problem with the overuse of antibiotics accelerating this process. Antibiotic stewardship aims to optimise antibiotic treatment to enable cost-effective therapy and improve patients’ outcome whilst limiting ABR. The study aimed to evaluate intern m...

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Main Authors: Anke Archer, Marna Blom, Renette de Lange, Esther Jansen van Vuuren, Theunis E. Kellerman, Samantha Potgieter, Gina Joubert
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2021-10-01
Series:South African Family Practice
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Online Access:https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5336
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author Anke Archer
Marna Blom
Renette de Lange
Esther Jansen van Vuuren
Theunis E. Kellerman
Samantha Potgieter
Gina Joubert
author_facet Anke Archer
Marna Blom
Renette de Lange
Esther Jansen van Vuuren
Theunis E. Kellerman
Samantha Potgieter
Gina Joubert
author_sort Anke Archer
collection DOAJ
description Background: Antibiotic resistance (ABR) is a global problem with the overuse of antibiotics accelerating this process. Antibiotic stewardship aims to optimise antibiotic treatment to enable cost-effective therapy and improve patients’ outcome whilst limiting ABR. The study aimed to evaluate intern medical doctors’ knowledge and perceptions about antibiotic stewardship and their perceptions regarding education on relevant topics. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study on interns rotating at Bloemfontein Academic Complex. An anonymous, self-administered questionnaire was completed. The questionnaire recorded demographic information, perception and knowledge of antibiotic stewardship, and the quality of education as perceived by the interns. Results: Of the 120 possible participants, 92 (76.7%) responded to all or part of the questionnaire. The median age of the respondents was 25 years, and 56.7% of the respondents were female. The mean score for the knowledge-based case scenarios was 5.4 out of 10. Only 4.4% participants could manage a drip site infection correctly, whilst 18.5% could treat Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteraemia. The interns perceived that they have a lack of training and preparedness in certain areas of prescribing antibiotics. Though 77.2% of the interns had received education on starting antibiotic treatment, 29.3% claimed to be unsure when to start antibiotic therapy. Interns indicated that formal lectures (81.3%) and bedside tutorials (86.7%) have a high educational value. Conclusion: Intern medical doctors do not have sufficient knowledge to establish antibiotic stewardship but have a desire for improvement. The results identified specific areas where better antibiotic training is required.
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spelling doaj-art-21196746427d43cfb4ece155eb6e84a82025-08-20T03:06:51ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042021-10-01631e1e610.4102/safp.v63i1.53364169The knowledge and perceptions regarding antibiotic stewardship of the interns rotating at the Bloemfontein Academic ComplexAnke Archer0Marna Blom1Renette de Lange2Esther Jansen van Vuuren3Theunis E. Kellerman4Samantha Potgieter5Gina Joubert6Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, BloemfonteinDepartment of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, BloemfonteinDepartment of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, BloemfonteinDepartment of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, BloemfonteinDepartment of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, BloemfonteinDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, BloemfonteinDepartment of Biostatistics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, BloemfonteinBackground: Antibiotic resistance (ABR) is a global problem with the overuse of antibiotics accelerating this process. Antibiotic stewardship aims to optimise antibiotic treatment to enable cost-effective therapy and improve patients’ outcome whilst limiting ABR. The study aimed to evaluate intern medical doctors’ knowledge and perceptions about antibiotic stewardship and their perceptions regarding education on relevant topics. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study on interns rotating at Bloemfontein Academic Complex. An anonymous, self-administered questionnaire was completed. The questionnaire recorded demographic information, perception and knowledge of antibiotic stewardship, and the quality of education as perceived by the interns. Results: Of the 120 possible participants, 92 (76.7%) responded to all or part of the questionnaire. The median age of the respondents was 25 years, and 56.7% of the respondents were female. The mean score for the knowledge-based case scenarios was 5.4 out of 10. Only 4.4% participants could manage a drip site infection correctly, whilst 18.5% could treat Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteraemia. The interns perceived that they have a lack of training and preparedness in certain areas of prescribing antibiotics. Though 77.2% of the interns had received education on starting antibiotic treatment, 29.3% claimed to be unsure when to start antibiotic therapy. Interns indicated that formal lectures (81.3%) and bedside tutorials (86.7%) have a high educational value. Conclusion: Intern medical doctors do not have sufficient knowledge to establish antibiotic stewardship but have a desire for improvement. The results identified specific areas where better antibiotic training is required.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5336antibiotic resistancemedical internsknowledgeperceptioneducation
spellingShingle Anke Archer
Marna Blom
Renette de Lange
Esther Jansen van Vuuren
Theunis E. Kellerman
Samantha Potgieter
Gina Joubert
The knowledge and perceptions regarding antibiotic stewardship of the interns rotating at the Bloemfontein Academic Complex
South African Family Practice
antibiotic resistance
medical interns
knowledge
perception
education
title The knowledge and perceptions regarding antibiotic stewardship of the interns rotating at the Bloemfontein Academic Complex
title_full The knowledge and perceptions regarding antibiotic stewardship of the interns rotating at the Bloemfontein Academic Complex
title_fullStr The knowledge and perceptions regarding antibiotic stewardship of the interns rotating at the Bloemfontein Academic Complex
title_full_unstemmed The knowledge and perceptions regarding antibiotic stewardship of the interns rotating at the Bloemfontein Academic Complex
title_short The knowledge and perceptions regarding antibiotic stewardship of the interns rotating at the Bloemfontein Academic Complex
title_sort knowledge and perceptions regarding antibiotic stewardship of the interns rotating at the bloemfontein academic complex
topic antibiotic resistance
medical interns
knowledge
perception
education
url https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5336
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