Attitudes and behaviors of Family Physicians regarding use of antibiotics

Objectives: Antimicrobials are the most widely used drug groups and antibiotic resistance due to irrational antimicrobial usage is a major problem in the world. The aim of this study is to evaluate attitudes of family physicians antimicrobial prescribing. Materials and methods: This study was conducted in November 2006 in Bolu and Duzce provinces where the first family physician practices were initiated in Turkey. The records of family physicians were reviewed retrospectively. Patients\' data, social security institution of the patients, the diagnosis and prescribed antibiotics, duration, dosage and routes of antibiotic administration were recorded. Results: A total of 4,497 patients were included in the study consisting of 1,752 (39%) men, and 2,745 (61%) women. The mean age of the patients was 36.6 p 22.7 years. Antimicrobials were prescribed to 1,167 patients (25.9%). Among 1,167 antibiotics, 1,064 (91.2%) were administered orally, 77 (6.6%) were paranteral and 26 (2.2%) were taken through other routes. In 39 (3.3%) patients, there was no indication for antimicrobial use. In 103 patients (9.1%) from the accurate antibiotic indication group, the choice of the agent was not consistent with the guidelines. In 273 patients (23.4%) on antimicrobial therapy, duration of the antibiotic was inappropriate. The most common indication of the antibiotic prescription was tonsillopharyngitis and the most prescribed antibiotics for this diagnosis were beta lactam/beta lactamase inhibitors. Conclusions: In conclusion, there is still considerable overuse of antibiotics by primary care patients, especially the ones suffering respiratory tract infections. Educational interventions on antimicrobial use could be useful.