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Public Knowledge, Attitudes, and Experience Regarding the Use of Antibiotics in Italy

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  • Francesco Napolitano
  • Maria Teresa Izzo
  • Gabriella Di Giuseppe
  • Italo F Angelillo

Abstract

Background: The objectives of the study were to investigate the level of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding antibiotics of the general population in Italy, and to assess the correlates of these outcomes of interest. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a random sample of 630 parents of students attending nine randomly selected public primary and secondary schools. A self-administered questionnaire included questions on demographic characteristics, knowledge about antibiotic use and resistance, attitudes and behaviors towards antibiotic use, and sources of information. Results: A total of 419 parents participated. Only 9.8% knew the definition of antibiotic resistance and 21.2% knew when it was appropriate to use antibiotics. Respondents with higher education, employed, with a family member working in the health care sector, and with no need for additional information on antibiotics were more likely to know the definition of antibiotic resistance. One third (32.7%) self-classified them as users of self-medication with antibiotics and those with a lower self-rated health status, who did not use the physician as source of information on antibiotics, and who have attended a physician in the last year were more likely to use self-medication. One-fourth (22.7%) of those who had never been self-medicated would be willing to take an antibiotic without a prescription of a physician. Respondents were more likely to be willing to take antibiotics without a prescription if they were under 40 years of age, if they had a lower self-rated health status, if they did not know that antibiotics are not indicated for treating flu and sore throat, and if they knew that antibiotics are not indicated for treating colds. Conclusions: The survey has generated information about knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding antibiotics in the general population and effective public education initiative should provide practical and appropriate means to change their behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesco Napolitano & Maria Teresa Izzo & Gabriella Di Giuseppe & Italo F Angelillo, 2013. "Public Knowledge, Attitudes, and Experience Regarding the Use of Antibiotics in Italy," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(12), pages 1-6, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0084177
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0084177
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Vaananen, Minna Heleena & Pietila, Kirsi & Airaksinen, Marja, 2006. "Self-medication with antibiotics--Does it really happen in Europe?," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(2), pages 166-171, July.
    2. Hui Pan & Binglin Cui & Dangui Zhang & Jeremy Farrar & Frieda Law & William Ba-Thein, 2012. "Prior Knowledge, Older Age, and Higher Allowance Are Risk Factors for Self-Medication with Antibiotics among University Students in Southern China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(7), pages 1-8, July.
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    1. Olga J Horvat & Ana D Tomas & Milica M Paut Kusturica & Alisa V Savkov & Dragica U Bukumirić & Zdenko S Tomić & Ana J Sabo, 2017. "Is the level of knowledge a predictor of rational antibiotic use in Serbia?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(7), pages 1-13, July.
    2. Alexandra Waluszewski & Alessandro Cinti & Andrea Perna, 2021. "Antibiotics in pig meat production: restrictions as the odd case and overuse as normality? Experiences from Sweden and Italy," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Abdoulkader Ali Adou & Francesco Napolitano & Alessandra Vastola & Italo Francesco Angelillo, 2019. "Travelers’ knowledge, attitudes, and behavior related to infectious diseases in Italy," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(4), pages 1-12, April.
    4. Mohit Nair & Santanu Tripathi & Sumit Mazumdar & Raman Mahajan & Amit Harshana & Alan Pereira & Carolina Jimenez & Debasish Halder & Sakib Burza, 2019. "Knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to antibiotic use in Paschim Bardhaman District: A survey of healthcare providers in West Bengal, India," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(5), pages 1-14, May.
    5. Diana Cascone & Davide Tomassoni & Francesco Napolitano & Gabriella Di Giuseppe, 2019. "Evaluation of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices about Exclusive Breastfeeding among Women in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-11, June.

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