Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Antibiotics Use and an Examination on Patient’s Unrealistic Health Symptoms in Turkey

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to assess the attitudes and knowledge of adult individuals about antibiotics. Since in Turkey, antibiotics are not sold without a prescription, it was also investigated whether Turkish people compelled physicians to prescribe antibiotics by showing unrealistic symptoms. Methods:A self-administered cross-sectional survey involving 1,057 respondents was conducted using a validated questionnaire. The questionnaire was prepared in four sections. The first section included attitude assessment and a five-point Likert scale has collected information. In the second section, knowledge questions examined participants' knowledge about antibiotics with Three-point Likert scale. The third section contained a sensitive question, and using the crosswise model was indirectly asked whether the participant has forced the physician to prescribe an antibiotic. The reliability test results for the attitude scale showed the α-value of Cronbach was 0.767, and KR-21 reliability for the knowledge scale was 0.713. Test-retest reliability coefficients for attitude scale was r=0.697, the coefficients for knowledge scale was r=0.887.Results: Turkish people's awareness about antibiotics is insufficient but at an acceptable level. The public is aware that antibiotics rapidly develop resistance when used widely and incorrectly. Nevertheless, %17 of them resort to showing unrealistic symptoms to force the physician to prescribe antibiotics. Conclusion:To conclude, Turkish people's knowledge and attitudes about antibiotics are insufficient but acceptable. However, a noticeable rate of patients resorts to showing unrealistic symptoms to force the physician to prescribe antibiotics.

Perspectives of Immigrants and Native Dutch on Antibiotic Use: A Qualitative Study

“…Moreover, Turkish inhabitants nowadays show appropriate attitudes and practices towards antibiotics and only a small portion declared that they put pressure on healthcare professionals to prescribe antibiotics [ 33 ]. Not all recent Turkish studies are predominantly positive about Turkish people’s attitudes and knowledge [ 35 , 36 ] and show that 16.9% of patients still force the physician to prescribe antibiotics [ 37 ], which may underline strong individual differences. Another explanation for the similarities between immigrant and native Dutch participants might be that cultural differences in healthcare mainly play a role when there are psychological issues or traumatic experiences that involve complex treatments [ 38 , 39 ].…”

Antibiotics Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviours among the Population Living in Greece and Turkey

“…In Turkey, several studies have investigated the attitudes, knowledge and behaviours towards antibiotics [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ], but only one surveyed more than one city [ 13 ]. A study of 945 Turkish university students and their friends and families found that over half (55.8%) reported having used antibiotics in the past 12 months, and over a third (34.2%) had self-medicated without a prescription [ 13 ].…”

“…A study of 1057 Bursa residents found that many believed antibiotics could be used to treat bacterial infections (58.3%), viral infections (75.5%), as well as coughs, colds and the flu (60.4%) [ 11 ]. In addition, 64.5% believed it was correct to stop taking antibiotics when symptoms improved and that it was healthier to take fewer antibiotics than were prescribed (40.0%).…”