title: Antibiotic prescribing in DR Congo: a knowledge, attitude and practice survey among medical doctors and students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Antibiotic resistance (ABR) particularly hits resource poor countries, and is fuelled by irrational antibiotic (AB) prescribing. We surveyed knowledge, attitudes and practices of AB prescribing among medical students and doctors in Kisangani, DR Congo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-administered questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 184 questionnaires were completed (response rate 94.4%). Knowledge about AB was low (mean score 4.9/8 points), as was the estimation of local resistance rates of S. Typhi and Klebsiella spp.(correct by 42.5% and 6.9% of respondents respectively). ABR was recognized as a problem though less in their own practice (67.4%) than nation- or worldwide (92.9% and 85.5%, p<.0001). Confidence in AB prescribing was high (88.6%) and students consulted more frequently colleagues than medical doctors when prescribing (25.4% versus 11.6%, p= 0.19). Sources of AB prescribing included pharmaceutical companies (73.9%), antibiotic guidelines (66.3%), university courses (63.6%), internet-sites (45.7%) and WHO guidelines (26.6%). Only 30.4% and 16.3% respondents perceived AB procured through the central procurement and local pharmacies as of good quality. Local AB guidelines and courses about AB prescribing are welcomed (73.4% and 98.8% respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This data shows the need for interventions that support rational AB prescribing.
authors: Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. kthriemer@itg.be
authors: Kamala
authors: K
authors: Thriemer
authors: Yves
authors: Y
authors: Katuala
authors: Bibi
authors: B
authors: Batoko
authors: Jean-Pierre
authors: JP
authors: Alworonga
authors: Hugo
authors: H
authors: Devlieger
authors: Christel
authors: C
authors: Van Geet
authors: Dauly
authors: D
authors: Ngbonda
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Jacobs
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003223:Congo; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010820:Physicians; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012307:Risk Factors; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents