A cross- sectional study on perceptions and practice regarding rational use of antibiotics among persons attending outpatient department of a medical college and hospital.

Context: Appropriate antibiotics at correct dose at a correct time are very much important for proper treatment of bacterial infections.

Aim: The aim of the study was to find out the knowledge, attitude, and practice [KAP] regarding rational use of antibiotics among persons visiting the out-patient departments [OPDs] of our Medical College and to assess the factors associated with the KAP regarding rational use of antibiotics.

Settings and design: The study was a hospital-based, observational study with cross-sectional design. Persons (Patients and their attendants) attending OPDs of our Medical College were included in the study.

Materials and methods: The study duration was 3 months, and sample size was 289. A predesigned pretested structured schedule containing socio-demographic information, and KAP regarding rational use of antibiotics was used for data collection.

Statistical analysis: Data was entered in MS EXCEL and SPSS version 16 was used for data analysis. Chi-square test was used to find out the association between KAP of rational use of antibiotics with other variables and P value < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant difference.

Results: More than half [60.2%] of the study participants had poor knowledge regarding the rational use of antibiotics. Majority of the study participants [88.9%] had unsatisfactory attitude and 66.1% study participants had inappropriate practice. Educational status of the study participants was significantly associated with the KAP.

Conclusion: The study depicts poor knowledge and unsatisfactory attitude and inappropriate practice among the study participants. KAP of the study participants also vary significantly with respect to their educational status. Awareness generation among people on the rational use of antibiotics should be implemented.