Impact of community-based educational intervention on antibiotic use and resistance awareness among the people living in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Antibiotic resistance is a major global public health concern today. We explored the usefulness of an educational intervention in increasing antibiotic-related awareness of the public. Methods This community-based interventional study was conducted among 100 people living in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE. Preintervention awareness regarding antibiotics and antibiotic resistance was assessed using the World Health Organization antibiotic resistance: multicountry public awareness survey. After the baseline assessment of the knowledge, educational intervention was given to the study participants. The same questionnaire was used to assess the impact of this intervention after 4 weeks. Key findings The study participants had low baseline knowledge of antibiotics and the phenomenon of antibiotic resistance. A high proportion of study participants (54%) took antibiotics in the past 6 months. Our intervention significantly improved antibiotic-related knowledge and behaviours. Postintervention majority of study participants realized that full course of antibiotics should be taken (% change: 50.0, P < 0.001), leftover antibiotics from family and friends should not be used (% change: 40.0%, P = 0.004), antibiotics are of no use in viral infections (% change: 72.0%, P < 0.001), infections are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics (% change: 37%, P < 0.001), bacteria resistant to antibiotics can be spread from person to person (% change: 73%, P < 0.001) and infections from resistant bacteria are difficult to treat (% change: 38%, P < 0.001). Conclusion Following the intervention, antibiotic-related awareness was significantly improved among study participants. Further efforts should be made to ensure that this improved awareness is converted to necessary health behaviour changes in the long term.