Awareness of antibiotics use among Omani patients

Abstract

Objective: Antibiotics are considered crucial in preventing and treating many infectious diseases. However, antibiotics use causes major side effects and consequences. Raising public awareness about proper use of antibiotics contributes to improving understanding and preventing irreversible consequences. The aim of this study was to measure the level of awareness of antibiotics use among Omani patients, and to assess the relationship between level of awareness of antibiotics use and selected demographic variables.

Methods: A cross-sectional design using a questionnaire, with a convenience sample of 354 patients was employed for this study.

Results: The findings of this study indicated that most of the participants (63%) reported poor levels of awareness of antibiotics use. The mean value of level of awareness was 19.3 and the standard deviation was 3. Participants ranked doctors as the most (27%) to receive education from. There were significant relationship between levels of antibiotics awareness and gender [rpb (352) = -.126, p < .05]; levels of antibiotics awareness and employment [rpb (352) = -.149, p < .01]; levels of antibiotics awareness across age groups [F (3, 350) = 2.308, p = .049]; and across levels of education [F (3, 350) = 3.268, p = .014].

Conclusions: Such findings are crucial because they form the basis for establishing awareness programs about antibiotics use which should be made accessible to patients and their families.