CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY OF ANTIBIOTIC PRESCRIPTION PRACTICES AMONG GENERAL PRACTITIONERS

Abstract

Background: Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing in primary care significantly contributes to the global burden of antimicrobial resistance. General practitioners (GPs), being the primary point of contact in healthcare, play a crucial role in antibiotic stewardship. Understanding their prescribing behavior is essential to develop effective interventions.

Objective: To assess the patterns, knowledge, and attitudes related to antibiotic prescription practices among general practitioners in Pakistan.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from August 2024 to April 2025 across urban and rural regions of Pakistan. A total of 480 registered GPs were selected using stratified random sampling. A structured, validated questionnaire assessed demographic characteristics, prescribing behavior across common clinical scenarios, knowledge on antimicrobial resistance, and attitudes influencing prescribing decisions. Data were analyzed using SPSS v26, applying descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and ANOVA for group comparisons. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board (IRB).

Results: The mean participant age was 38.2 years; 58.3% were male. URTIs and UTIs were the most common conditions for which antibiotics were prescribed, with URTIs showing a 65.1% rate of inappropriate prescriptions. While awareness of antimicrobial resistance was high (mean score: 8.1/10), stewardship knowledge was lower (mean score: 4.9/10). Attitudinal analysis revealed fear of complications (78.4%) and patient pressure (65.2%) as major drivers of inappropriate prescribing.

Conclusion: Antibiotic prescription practices among GPs in Pakistan demonstrate high rates of inappropriate use, underlining the need for targeted educational and policy interventions to enhance rational antibiotic use in primary care.