Controlling antibiotic resistance through patient education

A pretest-posttest with a non-equivalent control group design was conducted to determine the effect of a nurse led educational intervention on urgent care patients' knowledge on viral and bacterial infections and the proper use of antibiotics. Reasons why individuals request antibiotics was also observed. The researcher determined if those who request antibiotics actually receive antibiotics, and determined if a specific age group or gender request antibiotics more frequently. Data was collected using a pretest/posttest and demographic survey. A pretest was given to the experimental group. The experimental group received an educational intervention, and then a posttest was given. The control group did not receive an educational intervention and were only administered a survey and posttest. This was done to determine if education made an impact on patients' knowledge of viral versus bacterial infections and when antibiotics are warranted. The sample consisted of 35 male and 40 female patients aged 25--45 years of age, who met the inclusion criteria. Research findings revealed patients frequently request antibiotics to make them feel better faster and provide quick relief, women request antibiotics more often than men, the younger age group request antibiotics more often. There was no significant difference between the prescribing of antibiotics and gender or between patients request for antibiotics and gender. Forty seven percent (47%) of the patients received an antibiotic for a viral upper respiratory infection. From the chi square statistics it is clear that there was a relationship between knowledge gained and education both within the experimental group's pretest and posttest and between the experimental and control group's posttest. That is, the educational intervention given to the experimental group improved patients' knowledge gained on viral and bacterial infections and the proper use of antibiotics. This study confirmed that patient education does play an effect in reduction of inappropriate antibiotic use. Results of this study showed patients had a better understanding, when given educational material, on the proper use of antibiotics and when they are and are not warranted for infection, than those who did not receive educational material. Patient education should continue to play a factor in reducing antibiotic resistance.