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BMC Infectious Diseases
Published in: BMC Infectious Diseases 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Antibiotic prescribing behavior among general practitioners – a questionnaire-based study in Germany

Authors: Florian Salm, Sandra Schneider, Katja Schmücker, Inga Petruschke, Tobias S. Kramer, Regina Hanke, Christin Schröder, Christoph Heintze, Ulrich Schwantes, Petra Gastmeier, Jochen Gensichen, on behalf of the RAI-Study Group

Published in: BMC Infectious Diseases | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

This study investigates the barriers and facilitators of the use of antibiotics in acute respiratory tract infections by general practitioners (GPs) in Germany.

Methods

A multidisciplinary team designed and pre-tested a written questionnaire addressing the topics awareness of antimicrobial resistance (7 items), use of antibiotics (9 items), guidelines/sources of information (9 items) and sociodemographic factors (7 items), using a five-point-Likert-scale (“never” to “very often”). The questionnaire was mailed by postally to 987 GPs with registered practices in eastern Germany in May 2015.

Results

34% (340/987) of the GPs responded to this survey. Most of the participants assumed a multifactorial origin for the rise of multidrug resistant organisms. In addition, 70.2% (239/340) believed that their own prescribing behavior influenced the drug-resistance situation in their area. GPs with longer work experience (> 25 years) assumed less individual influence on drug resistance than their colleagues with less than 7 years experience as practicing physicians (Odds Ratio [OR] 0.32, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.17–0.62; P < 0.001). 99.1% (337/340) of participants were familiar with the “delayed prescription” strategy to reduce antibiotic prescriptions. However, only 29.4% (74/340) answered that they apply it “often” or “very often”. GPs working in rural areas were less likely than those working in urban areas to apply delayed prescription.

Conclusion

The knowledge on factors causing antimicrobial resistance in bacteria is good among GPs in eastern Germany. However measures to improve rational prescription are not widely implemented yet. Further efforts have to be made in order to improve rational prescription of antibiotic among GPs. Nevertheless, there is a strong awareness of antimicrobial resistance among the participating GPs.
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Metadata
Title
Antibiotic prescribing behavior among general practitioners – a questionnaire-based study in Germany
Authors
Florian Salm
Sandra Schneider
Katja Schmücker
Inga Petruschke
Tobias S. Kramer
Regina Hanke
Christin Schröder
Christoph Heintze
Ulrich Schwantes
Petra Gastmeier
Jochen Gensichen
on behalf of the RAI-Study Group
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Infectious Diseases / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2334
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-018-3120-y

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