Public perception and knowledge antimicrobial resistance: a study based on an online survey

• Grant number: 24/10228-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2024
• End date: August 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Products of Animal Origin Inspection
• Principal Investigator: Juliano Gonçalves Pereira
• Grantee: Victória Ribeiro Silvestre
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is currently recognized as one of the main public health problems, and projections indicate that it will be the leading cause of human deaths by 2050. Public health organizations highlight that part of the measures to mitigate risks depends on the knowledge and attitudes of the general population regarding this issue. Therefore, assessing this situation by determining the knowledge profile and attitudes of the general population about the use of antibiotics and the risks of their inappropriate use can guide health education actions to help mitigate this serious public health problem. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of individuals regarding the use of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance through the application of an online questionnaire. To this end, a form will be created via Google Forms and distributed online through social networks, emails, and websites, with the following sections: 1 - personal identification; 2 - general knowledge on the topic; 3 - use of antibiotics; 4 - personal attitudes. The form will be open for completion for 45 days to collect 1,083 responses. The data obtained will be tabulated and expressed as the frequency of responses according to each section of the questionnaire. Data will be analyzed using SPSS version 26. The mean with standard deviation (SD) and frequency (%) will be calculated to describe the study results. Logistic regression will be used to explain the association between knowledge and attitudes about the topic and the variables. Variables with a p-value < 0.05 and 95% CI will be considered significant. It is hoped that the execution of this project will enable the profiling of the population studied on the topic of antibiotic resistance, contributing to global efforts aimed at reducing this problem.