Knowledge-Practice Gaps of Practicing Doctors on Antimicrobial Stewardship-A Single Center Experience

Abstract

The overwhelming, irrational behaviour of using Antimicrobial (AM) has added to the amplification and spread of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) burden. Healthcare professionals can curtail the AMR by practicing Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS). The single-centre hospital-based observational study aimed at accessing the knowledge, attitude and practice of practicing doctors towards AMS based on a free online open WHO course, a global action plan to combat AMR, laid down by WHO in a tertiary care hospital. The study was designed as a questionnaire-based cross-sectional one, conducted among practitioners (faculty, senior residents, junior residents) in different clinical departments. A validated self-administered questionnaire consisting of 29 questions was designed and shared among 200 participants through the mail and physically. Different subgroup analysis (surgeon vs physician, faculty vs senior resident vs junior resident, open WHO course participant vs open WHO course aware non-participant vs open WHO course unaware non-participants) was done for differences in responses to questions. Pearson Chi-square test was used for categorical data. Differences amongst groups were tested using the Chi‐squared test. P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Response rate was 62.5% (n = 200). Knowledge on AMS was observed among doctors’ with >50% near correct responses in each question except for the question asking on IV route of AM administration. A significant knowledge gap was found when a comparison was made between faculty members, senior residents and junior residents (p<0.001) in the spectrum of activity of AM. Knowledge gap on ASP is observed among practicing doctors but significant differences were found among faculty, senior residents and junior residents, among open WHO course participants vs open WHO course unaware non-participants. The open WHO course may help in nullifying this gap.