Knowledge and practices regarding antibiotics use: findings from a cross-sectional survey among Italian adults.

The dataset was used in a cross-sectional study aimed to assess the knowledge of antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the antibiotic use among the general public in Southern Italy and to analyze whether socio-demographic characteristics could be associated with poor knowledge and improper practices. From March to November 2019, a face to face interview was conducted with all consecutive adult subjects attending the waiting room of 27 randomly selected general practitioners (GPs) and community based pediatrician (CBPs) in Southern Italy. Two trained physicians, not involved in patient care, conducted the structured face to face interview. All the information was self-reported by the participants, no medical records or interviews by any GP or CBP were used as sources of data. The questionnaire covered a broad range of issues related to sociodemographic characteristics of the participants (gender, age, nationality, marital status, education level and employment status, having at least a son/daughter and his/her age), knowledge of antibiotics and AMR and practices regarding the consumption of antibiotics. Multivariate analyses were conducted using stepwise multivariate logistic regression modelling techniques to investigate the following outcomes: knowledge about antibiotics and AMR; antibiotic use in the previous 12 months; antibiotic use for common cold and/or fever; self-medication with antibiotics. To assess knowledge, the participants were asked to respond to 10 different statements. An overall knowledge score was calculated by assigning one point for each correct response and summing the scores to each statement. The total score ranged from 0 to 10. The overall median knowledge score of the respondents was then estimated and a ≤50th percentile score was interpreted as poor knowledge, while a >50th percentile score as good knowledge. The response rate was 89.7%. In the sample, 29.2% thought that antibiotics are effective for viral infections and 49.5% correctly recognized the definition of AMR. Predictors of good knowledge about antibiotics and AMR were female gender and a higher education level. Almost half of the respondents had used antibiotics in the previous year and 23.6% took antibiotics to treat a common cold and/or fever. Among participants, 25.5% reported to have bought antibiotics without a prescription, and 30.6% were classified as antibiotic self-medication users. The findings of this study highlighted a considerable antibiotic consumption in the adult population of Southern Italy together with misconceptions regarding the correct indication for antibiotic use that could foster indiscriminate antibiotic use.本数据集用于一项横断面研究，该研究旨在评估意大利南部普通民众对抗生素及抗菌药物耐药性（antimicrobial resistance, AMR）的认知水平与抗生素使用情况，并分析社会人口学特征是否与认知不足及不当行为存在关联。 2019年3月至11月，研究人员对意大利南部27家随机抽取的全科医生（general practitioners, GPs）与社区儿科医师（community based pediatrician, CBPs）诊所候诊室中的所有连续纳入的成年受试者开展面对面访谈。由两名未参与临床诊疗工作的经过培训的医师实施结构化面对面访谈。所有信息均由受试者自行报告，未使用任何全科医生或社区儿科医师的诊疗记录或访谈内容作为数据来源。 调查问卷涵盖了与受试者社会人口学特征相关的多类问题，包括性别、年龄、国籍、婚姻状况、教育水平、就业状况、是否育有子女及子女年龄，同时涵盖了受试者对抗生素及AMR的认知情况，以及抗生素使用相关行为。研究采用逐步多因素logistic回归建模技术开展多变量分析，以探究以下结局指标：抗生素及AMR相关认知、过去12个月内的抗生素使用情况、因普通感冒或发热使用抗生素的情况、抗生素自我用药行为。 为评估认知水平，受试者需回答10道不同的陈述题。通过为每道题的正确回答计1分并累计总分，计算得到总体认知得分，总分范围为0至10分。随后估算所有受访者的认知得分中位数，将≤50百分位数的得分判定为认知不足，＞50百分位数的得分判定为认知良好。 本研究的应答率为89.7%。在样本中，29.2%的受试者认为抗生素对病毒感染有效，49.5%的受试者正确知晓AMR的定义。女性性别与较高教育水平是抗生素及AMR相关认知良好的预测因素。近半数受访者在过去一年内使用过抗生素，23.6%的受试者曾因普通感冒或发热自行服用抗生素。25.5%的受试者报告曾无处方购买抗生素，30.6%的受试者被归类为抗生素自我用药使用者。 本研究结果表明，意大利南部成年人群存在较为普遍的抗生素使用情况，同时存在对抗生素正确使用适应症的认知误区，这可能会加剧抗生素的无节制使用。