P-26 The Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Antibiotic Use Amongst Patients at Agape Family Medicine Clinic in Nassau, Bahamas

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on individuals attending Agape Family Medicine Clinic. One hundred and eighty-three English-speaking individuals, 18 years of age or older with previous use of antibiotics were invited to complete a self-administered 47-item questionnaire. Data was collected from February 1, 2020 - July 31, 2020 and analyzed using the IBM SPSS statistical analysis software.

Results: There was a 13% refusal rate with 161 persons agreeing to participate in the study. More than half (54.4%) of the participants believed that antibiotics reduced recovery time of most coughs and colds and 44.3% thought they were effective against viruses. Overall, poor knowledge was demonstrated. However, more than half (57.8%) had positive attitudes; 88.2% preferred not to self-medicate. Most participants (92.5%) had good practices; 70.0% completed their last antibiotic course. However, a small percentage (6.3%) of respondents reported self-medication, half of which obtained the antibiotic used from a pharmacy.

Conclusion: There is a significant deficit in the knowledge of antibiotic use among patients attending Agape Family Medicine clinic. Overall, good attitudes and practices were observed however, improvements can be made. Physicians must practice evidence-based medicine and explain treatment decisions to their patients. Public educational campaigns geared towards antibiotic use and misuse are also critical. Furthermore, laws and regulations concerning the distribution of antibiotics by pharmacies must be implemented and enforced.