Public Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Antibiotic Use in South Korea

Abstract

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine public level of knowledge and attitudes regarding antibiotic use and potential drug resistance. Methods: A cross-sectional face-to-face survey of 1,177 residents aged 18 or over was conducted in Korea. A quota sampling method was used. Results: Most respondents (70%) did not know that antibiotics are ineffective in treating coughs and colds. Two-thirds of the respondents were unaware of the conditions under which antibiotic resistance occurs, despite understanding the concept of resistance. Lower education level and older age were independently associated with inadequate knowledge. Lower education level, older age, inadequate knowledge and no exposure to the education campaign were independently associated with poor attitude. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that the general public has misunderstandings and a lack of knowledge with regard to antibiotic use, despite a national educational campaign. However, the campaign may have had an effect on the public's attitudes towards antibiotics.

Awareness and Knowledge about Antibiotic Use and Resistance among Students of Northern Border University Saudi Arabia

“…Many studies have reported that antibiotic regime non-adherence and in-appropriate antibiotic use are strongly associated with public awareness and knowledge of antibiotics [2][3][4][5]. Factors associated with public knowledge of antibiotics have been reported to be demographic characteristics, including gender [2,4,[6][7][8], age [6,[8][9][10][11][12], race [7,9], education level [3,4,[6][7][8][9][10][12][13][14][15], family income [4,8,14], place of residence [13,14], as well as other factors, such as lack of advice regarding rational antibiotic use, given by a physician [16]. Also, unregulated drug availability, inadequate antimicrobial drug quality assurance, inadequate surveillance and widespread attitude to antimicrobial misuse, include self-medication [17].…”

Social Aspects of Antibiotic use in the South and East Asian Students and General Population

“…To target groups with lower educational levels, there is a need for higher impact tools for continual reinforcement and repetition. 11 Concise, tailored slogans and cues to action using television, newspapers, and the internet have proven effective modalities for public education. 11,33,34,35 Antibiotic campaigns conducted in Belgium, France and England using higher profile communicative tools such as television, repeated for several years, has led to a significant reduction in community antibiotic consumption.…”

“…11 Concise, tailored slogans and cues to action using television, newspapers, and the internet have proven effective modalities for public education. 11,33,34,35 Antibiotic campaigns conducted in Belgium, France and England using higher profile communicative tools such as television, repeated for several years, has led to a significant reduction in community antibiotic consumption. 36 Relating to SEAR, the Antimicrobial Resistance in Indonesia 'Prevalence and Prevention' (AMRIN) study was set up to scrutinize antibiotic patterns and use in Semarang and Surabaya.…”

“…More than half (57.2%, n=673) were unaware that some side effects of antibiotics include killing normal gut flora and flora. 11 In a separate study in Korea, more than 70% (n=449) of the physicians and pharmacists knew the etiology of common colds but majority of the respondents 60.2% (n=709) of parents who believed the duration of the common cold in children whereas 34.1% (n=401) think that the complications of colds are reduced by antibiotics. 12 In India, a study between BPharm and PharmD students discovered that there was a considerable knowledge gap.…”

“…The main reason respondents practiced self-medication with antibiotics was because they believed that antibiotics boosted their immunity prompting faster recovery from colds (48.2%, n=561). 11 In a parenting community in Korea, only 2.2% (n=11) parents urged for a prescription for antibiotics. In addition, more than a quarter (31.5%, n=160) thought that doctors prescribe too many antibiotics and 23.8% (n=121) agree that some doctors prescribe antibiotics unnecessarily for financial benefit.…”