Title

Knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors about antibiotics by persons with wounds

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

2019

Publication Title

Wound Repair Regen

Abstract

Background: This study examined knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors about antibiotic use by adults who had a wound within the past year. Methods: The parent study was descriptive, cross-sectional that enrolled adults (N=505) across community-based (library, senior center, community recreation center, art center) and outpatient and hospital clinic sites; 26 of the participants reported a wound within the past year and are the focus of this report. Participants with wounds were 57.7% women, African American (42.3%) or Caucasian (30.8%) and had some college education (65.4%). Participants responded to an antibiotic knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behavior questionnaire. Hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis of variables was used to find clusters of items on the attitude, beliefs, and behavior questions. Descriptive statistics and Spearman's rho correlation were also examined. Results: The mean antibiotic knowledge score was 69%. Higher antibiotic knowledge was significantly related to higher education (rs =.71, p < .001) and higher rating of health (rs=.43, p=.028). There were 2 attitude and beliefs clusters: most participants (>85%) recognized the need for medical supervision of antibiotic use (cluster 1); belief about the need for antibiotics to prevent illness or treat wounds varied from 27% to 62% (cluster 2). There were 4 behavior clusters: almost all filled and took the antibiotic if prescribed (96%, cluster 1); disagreed with unapproved methods of obtaining antibiotics (>71%, cluster 2); and used prescribed antibiotics correctly (>87%, cluster 3). Participants heard about antibiotic resistance through TV or radio (36%) or internet (40%), cluster 4. Conclusion: Knowledge about antibiotics was low, while attitudes were positive. These findings identify the need for non-commercial information on the role of antibiotics in wound care.

Volume

27

Issue

3

First Page

A16

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