title: General practitioners' knowledge, attitude and prescribing of antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections in Selangor, Malaysia: findings and implications.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Antibiotics are widely prescribed especially for upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). Their irrational use can increase costs and resistance.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Assess knowledge, attitude and prescribing of antibiotics for URTIs in Selangor, Malaysia, using a cross-sectional survey among general practitioners (GPs) working in private clinics in 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and thirty-nine physicians completed the questionnaire (response rate = 34.8%). 49.6% (n = 69) agreed antibiotics are helpful in treating URTIs, with most GPs agreeing antibiotics may reduce URTI duration and complications. The majority of GPs reported they felt patients expected antibiotics, with 36.7% (n = 51) agreeing patients would change doctors if they did not prescribe antibiotics and 21.6% (n = 30) agreeing when requested they prescribe antibiotics even if they believe them to be unnecessary. When assessed against six criteria, most GPs had a moderate level of knowledge of prescribing for URTIs. However, antibiotic prescriptions could be appreciably reduced.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further programs are needed to educate GPs and patients about antibiotics building on current initiatives.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Penang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mohamed Azmi
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hassali
authors.forename: Tengku Karmila Tengku
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Kamil
authors.forename: Faridah Aryani
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Md Yusof
authors.forename: Alian A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Alrasheedy
authors.forename: Zuraidah Mohd
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Yusoff
authors.forename: Fahad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Saleem
authors.forename: Saleh Karamah
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Al-Tamimi
authors.forename: Zhi Yen
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Hisham
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aljadhey
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Godman
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Malaysia; antibiotics; education programs; irrational use of medicines; patients; physicians; respiratory tract infections