Sources of information about antibacterial drugs and antibiotic resistance: results of the study in the Republic of Belarus

Aim. To analyze sources of information about antibacterial drugs and antibiotic resistance among the population in the Republic of Belarus.

Materials and мethods. The social study included 1,405 people from all regions of Belarus.

Results. The main sources of information about antibacterial drugs were doctor’s knowledge (59.4%), medication instructions (45.5%), the Internet (22.7%), and personal (past) experience of using antibacterial drugs (21.0%). In the extended analysis, it was found that in most cases, information about antibacterial drugs was received from a doctor by people with lower-middle income, medication instructions were used more often by respondents with upper-middle income, while individuals with higher education were more likely to receive information from the Internet.

Conclusion. To increase awareness of the population of antibacterial drugs, income, age, and socio-occupational characteristics should be considered. Working with health professionals is also essential: holding annual training events in medical organizations and pharmacies, organizing internships for professional development, conversations with patients during doctor’s visits, placing information about the correct use of antibacterial drugs in medical organizations in the form of posters, leaflets, and videos.

1. Butler C., Hillier S., Roberts Z. Antibiotic-resistant infections in primary care are symptomatic for longer and increase work load: outcomes for patients with E coli UTIs. Br. J. Gen. Pract. 2006;56 686–692.

2. Costelloe C., Metcalfe C., Lovering A., Mant D., Hay A.D. Effect of antibiotic prescribing in primary care on antimicrobial resistance in individual patients: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. 2010;340:с2096. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.c2096.

3. Зуева Л.П., Поляк М.С., Кафтырева Л.А., Колосовская Е.Н. Эпидемиологический мониторинг антибиотикорезистентности микроорганизмов с использованием компьютерной программы WHONET. Методические рекомендации. 2004:69.

4. Кузьменков А.Ю., Эйдельштейн М.В., Козлов Р.С. AMRmap – система мониторинга антибиотикорезистентности в России. Клиническая микробиология и антимикробная химиотерапия. 2021;23(2):198–204. DOI: 10.36488/cmac.2021.2.198–204.

5. Schuts C., Hulscher L., Prins M. Current evidence on hospital antimicrobial stewardship objectives: a systematic review and meta–analysis. The Lancet Infectious Diseases. 2016;16(7):847–856. DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(16)00065-7.

6. Чигрина В.П., Тюфилин Д.С., Деев И.А., Кобякова О.С. Источники информации населения Российской Федерации об антибактериальных препаратах. Общественное здоровье. 2023;3(2):31–40. DOI: 10.21045/2782-1676-2023-3-231-40.

7. Miyano S., Htoon T., Nozaki I. Public knowledge, practices, and awareness of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance in Myanmar: The rst national mobile phone panel survey. PLoS One. 2022;17(8):e0273380. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273380.

8. Zucco R., Lavano F., Anfosso R. Internet and social media use for antibiotic–related information seeking: Findings from a survey among adult population in Italy. Int. J. Med. Inform. 2018;111:131–139. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2017.12.005.