Awareness of antibiotic resistance: a tool for measurement among human and animal health care professionals in LMICs and UMICs
Issued Date
2023-03-02
Resource Type
eISSN
14602091
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85149176073
Pubmed ID
36702634
Journal Title
The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy
Volume
78
Issue
3
Start Page
620
End Page
635
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy Vol.78 No.3 (2023) , 620-635
Suggested Citation
Pinto Jimenez C., Pearson M., Hennessey M., Nkereuwem E., Crocker C., Egbujo U., Hendriks J., Smith S., Whanpuch P., Manongi R., Thi Hoa N., Chandler C.I.R. Awareness of antibiotic resistance: a tool for measurement among human and animal health care professionals in LMICs and UMICs. The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy Vol.78 No.3 (2023) , 620-635. 635. doi:10.1093/jac/dkac424 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/82201
Title
Awareness of antibiotic resistance: a tool for measurement among human and animal health care professionals in LMICs and UMICs
Author's Affiliation
Oxford University Clinical Research Unit
Medical Research Council Laboratories Gambia
Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Royal Veterinary College University of London
Lagos State University Teaching Hospital
Mahidol University
Nuffield Department of Medicine
Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine
Medical Research Council Laboratories Gambia
Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Royal Veterinary College University of London
Lagos State University Teaching Hospital
Mahidol University
Nuffield Department of Medicine
Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Raising awareness of antimicrobial resistance is a cornerstone of action plans to tackle this global One Health challenge. Tools that can reliably assess levels of awareness of antibiotic resistance (ABR) among human or animal healthcare professionals (HCPs) are required to guide and evaluate interventions. METHODS: We designed and tested an ABR awareness scale, a self-administered questionnaire completed by human and animal HCPs trained to prescribe and dispense antibiotics in six countries-Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Vietnam, Thailand and Peru. Questionnaires also elicited demographic, practice, and contextual information. Psychometric analysis for the scale followed Rasch Measurement Theory. Bivariate analysis was carried out to identify factors associated with awareness scores. RESULTS: Overall, 941 HCPs (625 human and 316 animal) from Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Vietnam, Thailand and Peru were included in the study. The 23-item ABR awareness scale had high-reliability coefficients (0.88 for human and 0.90 for animal HCPs) but performed better within countries than across countries. Median ABR awareness scores were 54.6-63.5 for human HCPs and 55.2-63.8 for animal HCPs (scale of 0-100). Physicians and veterinarians scored higher than other HCPs in every country tested. HCPs in this study reported working in contexts with limited laboratory infrastructures. More than 95% of HCPs were interested in receiving information or training on ABR and antimicrobial stewardship. CONCLUSION: HCPs' awareness of ABR can be reliably assessed with this validated 23-item scale within the countries tested. Using the scale alongside context questions and objective measurement of practices is recommended to inform interventions to improve antibiotic use.