Biomedicine

Abstract

Background: Medical Doctors must play a pivotal role to control and prevent the misuse of antibiotics. Many prescribers are lacking behind in updates and advancement of antibiotic usage. To address such knowledge gap, this study was conducted to assess the perception on antibiotic usage and its resistance among interns of a Medical College in Urban Puducherry. Methods: This study was a Web-based cross-sectional survey conducted between the period of December 2019 - February 2020 (3 months) among interns. A semi-structured Questionnaire was mailed to them through Google forms and data was collected. Results: Out of 103 participants, 25.2% had received training on antibiotic usage during internship period with the mean duration of training for 5±2 hours. Only 21.4% of the total participants reported that they were aware of the guidelines for antibiotic usage followed in their hospital. Majority of them (88.3%) documented that there is a gap between theoretical and clinical approach in antibiotic prescribing pattern and 80% of the total participants have an opinion that there is an irrational usage of antibiotics in India. About 59.2% of the participants are confident in choosing the correct antibiotic. About 43.7% participants reported that usage of too many broad-spectrum antibiotics (3-4 antibiotics) is an important contributor of resistance. Interns who had attended multiple posting were more confident than who had attended single posting which showed a statistically significant result (p<0.05). Conclusion: The current perception on usage of appropriate antibiotics was not adequate among the participants. Hence, consistent education and antibiotic stewardship programs are needed. Also, inculcating the guidelines on antibiotic usage and its resistance in the undergraduate curriculum will strengthen their prescription pattern.