engleski

Antibiotic prescribing in primary care

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a major health-care problem worldwide, aggravated considerably by inappropriate antibiotic prescribing. The bulk of antibiotic are prescribed by general practitioners, often as the treatment for respiratory tract infections, which are mostly viral in origin. The objective of this study was to determine factors that influence physicians' decision concerning antibiotic prescribing, their attitudes and practices . A questionnaire survey was conducted among general practitioners and paediatricians in Rijeka between December 2008 and February 2009. A total of 158 physicians completed the questionnaire on antibiotic prescribing, giving a response rate of 60%. The majority of physicians (72%) responded that they sometimes prescribe an antimicrobial on patient's demand. More than half (55%) of them sometimes had prescribed an antibiotic for viral infection or allergy. Ninty-nine percent of responding physicians had experienced that patients requested an antibiotic prescription, although unnecessary. The majority of respondents (86%) consider themselves as being rational antibiotic prescribers. Antibiotic prescribing decision is greatly influenced by patient expectations. Continuous patient and physician education is an important measure in decreasing unnecessary antibiotic prescribing.and emphasising positive aspects of non-antibiotic treatment.

antibiotics; prescribing; primary care

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