Table 3.
Knowledge and Attitude Towards Antibiotics
| Knowledge Statement | Correct Answer Freq (%) | Incorrect Answer Freq (%) | Unsure Freq (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Role of antibiotics | ||||
| 1. | Antibiotics are medicines that can kill bacteria. | 330 (77.8) | 45 (10.6) | 49 (11.6) |
| 2. | Antibiotics can be used to treat viral infections. | 116 (27.4) | 218 (51.4) | 90 (21.2) |
| 3. | Antibiotics can cure all infections. | 291 (68.6) | 40 (9.4) | 93 (21.9) |
| 4. | Antibiotics are indicated to relieve pain/inflammation. | 196 (46.2) | 129 (30.4) | 99 (23.3) |
| 5. | Antibiotics are used to stop fever. | 187 (44.1) | 148 (34.9) | 89 (21.0) |
| Identification of antibiotics | ||||
| 6. | Penicillin is an antibiotic. | 197 (46.5) | 45 (10.6) | 182 (42.9) |
| 7. | Aspirin is a new generation of antibiotic. | 150 (35.4) | 71 (16.7) | 203 (47.9) |
| 8. | Paracetamol is considered as an antibiotic. | 175 (41.3) | 96 (22.6) | 153 (36.1) |
| 9. | Diphenhydramine is not an antibiotic. | 39 (9.2) | 39 (9.2) | 346 (81.6) |
| Adverse effect of antibiotics | ||||
| 10. | Overuse of antibiotics can cause antibiotic resistance. | 305 (71.9) | 32 (7.5) | 87 (20.5) |
| 11. | Antibiotics may cause allergic reaction. | 310 (73.1) | 32 (7.5) | 82 (19.3) |
| 12. | All antibiotics do not cause side effects. | 306 (72.2) | 28 (6.6) | 90 (21.2) |
| Completion of treatment course | ||||
| 13. | You can stop taking a full course of antibiotic if your symptoms are improving. | 283 (66.7) | 72 (17.0) | 69 (16.3) |
| 14. | The effectiveness of treatment is reduced if a full course of antibiotic is not completed. | 264 (62.3) | 59 (13.9) | 101 (23.8) |
| Attitude Statement | Agree | Disagree | Neutral | |
| 1. | When I get a cold, I will take antibiotics to help me get better more quickly. | 85 (20.0) | 247 (58.3) | 92 (21.7) |
| 2. | I expect antibiotics to be prescribed by my doctor if I suffer from common cold symptoms. | 151 (35.6) | 165 (38.9) | 108 (25.5) |
| 3. | I normally stop taking antibiotics when I start feeling better. | 141 (33.3) | 219 (51.7) | 64 (15.1) |
| 4. | If my family member is sick, I usually will give my antibiotics to them. | 47 (11.1) | 291 (68.6) | 86 (20.3) |
| 5. | I normally keep antibiotics stocks at home in case of emergency. | 122 (28.8) | 239 (56.4) | 63 (14.9) |
| 6. | I will use leftover antibiotics for a respiratory illness. | 33 (7.8) | 307 (72.4) | 84 (19.8) |
| 7. | I will take antibiotics according to the instruction on the label. | 359 (84.7) | 18 (4.2) | 47 (11.1) |
| 8. | I normally will look at the expiry date of antibiotics before taking it. | 336 (79.2) | 39 (9.2) | 49 (11.6) |
Note: “Disagree” for attitude statement 1–6 and “Agree” for attitude statement 7–8 are positive attitudes.