ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE REGARDING ANTIBIOTIC USE IN PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSAL

INTRODUCTION: Antibiotics are agents used to prevent and treat bacterial infections. They are the most commonly used drug class in the developing countries. Now a day’s resistance to antimicrobial drugs by the microorganism is increased due to improper use of antibiotics. Due to high infectious disease in country, antibiotics are the most frequently prescribed drugs, which results in increased antimicrobial resistance (AMR). There are many evidences to say that there is a relationship between antibiotic misuse and increasing bacterial resistance. In developing countries respiratory tract infections are major cause of increased length of hospital stay, morbidity and mortality due to inappropriate use of antibiotics.  AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To design and validate the knowledge, attitude and practice questionnaire regarding antibiotic use in patients suffering from respiratory tract infection. To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding antibiotic use in patients suffering from respiratory tract infection by using validated questionnaire.  JUSTIFICATION FOR THE STUDY: Recently, researchers have focused their attention on antibiotic misuse, and follow with interest the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) towards the antibiotic use of public. There are studies focused on public views on irrational antibiotic usage and their result showed that by educating public on antibiotic usage, the antibiotic resistance could be reduced. Hence my study is to assess the knowledge attitude and practice of antibiotic use among patient suffering from respiratory tract infection and to create awareness about antibiotic resistance and ensure rational use of antibiotics from the early stage of clinical practice. METHODOLOGY: Prospective observational study will be conducted for an 8-month duration. All patients of either gender aged above 18 years with respiratory tract infection who are prescribed with at least one antibiotic in Pulmonary Medicine department are included in study. Patients who are not willing to participate in the study and pregnant women are excluded from the study. The knowledge, attitude and practice questionnaire will be developed by referring primary, secondary and tertiary resources. Questionnaire will be validated by content and face validation method. Patient will be selected by random sampling method. Patient demographic parameters such as age, sex, educational qualification, occupation details etc will be recorded. Patient will be enrolled and interviewed by using KAP questionnaire and the scores will be documented.  STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Qualitative data will be summarized by using frequency, percentage. Quantitative variable will be documented by using mean, standard deviation, and confidence interval. Statistical software will be used to analyze the collected data.  OUTCOME MEASURE AND WHETHER IT IS OF NATIONALE SIGNIFICANCE WITH RATIONALE: The study will give the detailed information regarding antibiotic use in patients suffering from respiratory tract infection. Based on this study report, if needed further interventional studies can be done in future and to create awareness about antibiotic resistance and ensure rational use of antibiotics from the initial stage of clinical practice.