Knowledge and beliefs about antibiotics among people in Yogyakarta City Indonesia: a cross sectional population-based survey

People’s misconceptions of antibiotics can potentially lead to inappropriate self medication with either prescribed or non-prescribed antibiotics[1]. A review about antibiotic use in developing countries by Radyowijati and Haak[2] reported that people believed antibiotics as “an extraordinary medicine” or “a powerful medicine” or “a strong medicine” which are able to prevent and cure any diseases or symptoms. Misconceptions and lack of basic knowledge about antibiotic use have also been reported by several studies across populations in both developed and developing countries[3–12]. Patients’ demand for antibiotic prescription and the practice of using antibiotics without prescription by community members is influenced by such misconceptions[6, 8, 13].

Knowledge and beliefs are social cognitive factors at an individual level that influences health-related behavior, including the behavior of using antibiotics. Knowledge by itself is not enough to change behavior, but does play an important role in shaping beliefs and attitude regarding a particular behavior[14]. Consequently, in the context of antibiotic use, inappropriate knowledge of using antibiotics correctly potentially leads to misconceptions regarding such use. Given that inappropriate use of antibiotics in the community continues to be a significant problem in both developed and developing countries[5, 15]; reducing misconceptions regarding antibiotic use among the community members is imperative.

Information on knowledge and beliefs regarding antibiotic use in the developed countries in particular among general people has been widely presented[3, 6, 7, 16]. However, similar knowledge relating to developing world settings, including in Indonesia, is scarce[15]. Therefore, this present study is aimed at describing knowledge and beliefs about antibiotic use among people in an urban area of Indonesia.

This study was part of a study assessing self medication with antibiotics in Yogyakarta City Indonesia. Some details regarding methods, in particular sample selection, pre-testing the questionnaire, and data collection, have been presented elsewhere[17]. The study area was Yogyakarta City, Indonesia with a population density of about 14,000 persons per square kilometres in 2010. Yogyakarta City is known as a multiethnic city in Indonesia with the Javanese descent predominates[18]. Ethics approval was provided by the Human Research Ethics Committees at The University of Adelaide Australia (H-145-2009; RM No: 9508) and research permit was issued by the Government of Yogyakarta City Indonesia (Pemerintah Kota Yogyakarta Dinas Perizinan: 070/1970/5328/34).

This cross-sectional population-based survey involved respondents over 18 years who were randomly selected using a cluster random sampling method. The sample size adjusted for cluster design was 640. The sampling process involved the sub-districts in Yogyakarta City which were randomly selected. Households were randomly selected from every sub-district chosen. One family member was randomly selected from every household chosen.

The pre-tested questionnaire was self-administered to the respondents who consented to participate in this study during March to May 2010. The respondents were assured that their participation was voluntary and anonymous.

The data were digitally stored and analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) version 17. Only data of the participants who were able to correctly mention the name of one or more antibiotics was included in the data analysis (the inclusion criteria of data). Those who were not familiar with antibiotics were not required to answer the questions about knowledge and beliefs about antibiotics. These cases were coded as missing values and were dropped from the analysis. To assess potential bias due to these missing values, characteristics of respondents of the excluded data were compared with the included data using Chi-Square test.

The correct responses of the knowledge items were “No” for K1 and K2 and “Yes” for K3 to K5. A total of the correct responses were calculated to show the scores of overall knowledge (ranged from 1 to 5). The overall performance of knowledge was stated as poor (below the median), moderate (at the median), and adequate (above the median)[24].

Regarding the belief items, scores of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 were assigned respectively to each option - strongly disagree, disagree, neither agree nor disagree, agree, and strongly agree. Agreeing to the belief items (B1 to B4) was considered as inappropriate beliefs. The overall grade of the beliefs was approached using the total scores of those four belief items (ranged from 4 to 20). As per overall knowledge categorizations, the overall beliefs were stated as appropriate if the scores were below the median line, as moderate if they were at the line, and as inappropriate if they were above the line[24].

Data about demographic and socio-economic characteristics of respondents are reported as a percentage and median. The characteristics include gender, age, education achievement, and family income levels. Correlation analysis was conducted to examine the relationships between knowledge and beliefs. The strength of the correlation coefficients for two different groups (i.e. by gender - male and female; by age - younger: below the median line of age and older: above the median line; by education - lower: senior high school or less and higher: college or university degree; and by income - lower: less than US $ 150 and higher: US $ 150 or more) were also compared. The strength of the correlations was stated as weak at rho = 0.10 to 0.29; moderate at rho = 0.30 to 0.49; and strong at rho = 0.50 to 1.0 using confidence level of 95% (p < 0.05)[25].

A total of 559 respondents returned the completed questionnaires (90% response rate). Out of 559 respondents, 283 (51%) are familiar with antibiotics and are able to mention the name of antibiotics correctly. Those who are not familiar with antibiotics are 276 respondents. Data from these 283 respondents were analysed.

As described in Figure1, most people in this study (85%) are aware that indiscriminate use of antibiotics leads to antibiotic resistance. Further, most of the participants are able to correctly answer that bacterial infections can be treated by antibiotics (76%), that people can be allergic to antibiotics (70%), and that antibiotics must not be used as soon as they have fever (50%). On the other hand, most of participants (71%) have incorrect knowledge regarding the use of antibiotics for viral infections. The median of overall scores of knowledge is 3; ranged from 0 to 5 (a potential maximum of 5). Regarding level of knowledge, 31% of respondents are at the poor level of overall scores of knowledge, 35% have moderate level of knowledge, and 34% have adequate knowledge.

As described in Figure2, most participants (74%) believe that antibiotics can prevent any diseases from becoming worse. On the other hand, fewer than half believe that antibiotics have no side effects (24%), that antibiotics can cure any illnesses (40%), and that antibiotics can cure skin injuries quickly when they are poured onto the wounds (37%). However, those who neither agree nor disagree with these beliefs ranged from 25% to 40%. Median of the overall scores of beliefs is 13; ranged from 4 to 19 (a potential range of 4 to 20). Percentage of participants with appropriate belief is 29%; moderate belief is 46%; inappropriate belief is 25%.

Association between knowledge and beliefs is moderate and negative, rho = −0.261, n = 283, p < 0.01; in which high scores of knowledge associated with lower scores of beliefs; meaning that the more appropriate knowledge they have, the less misconceptions they have.

Overall results of this study show that most participants had moderate to adequate knowledge regarding antibiotic use. They were aware with the risks of antibiotic use; for example, regarding antimicrobial resistance, allergic and possible side effects. Most of them knew that antibiotics are effective for bacterial infections, but had inappropriate knowledge regarding antibiotics’ effectiveness for viral infections. In terms of beliefs about antibiotic use, overall they expressed beliefs that antibiotics can prevent any symptoms/diseases from becoming worse. Only a few believed that antibiotics have no side effects; that antibiotics can cure any diseases; and that antibiotics can be used effectively to cure skin injuries by pouring the powders onto the wounds. Furthermore, the relationships between knowledge and beliefs suggest that the more appropriate their knowledge about the use of antibiotics; the fewer misconceptions they will have regarding the effectiveness of antibiotics.

There are some limitations in this study, in particular regarding the methods used. Firstly, given that the study involved the population of an urban area of Indonesia, results of this study would apply more to urban people who are mostly literate, are able to easily get access to the mass media, and possibly have received more information about antibiotics than those in rural areas. Secondly, a recognized source of error in studies of antibiotic use involving lay people is whether the participants are able to differentiate antibiotics from other types of medicines[2]. However, participants who were not familiar with antibiotics were excluded from this study, to minimize bias. Given that nearly half of the cases were excluded, checking was done to assess bias due to these missing values. As mentioned earlier there are no significant differences in any of the socio-demographic characteristics between those who were included and those who were excluded.

Generally, lay people in both developed and developing countries are aware that antibiotics are effective for bacterial infections[6, 11, 26]. Interestingly, there is inconsistency in the literature regarding the appropriate knowledge among the community members about the effectiveness of antibiotics in treating viral infections[3, 6, 26, 27]. Furthermore, inconsistent information also exists in terms of people’s knowledge about other therapeutic effects of antibiotics; for example the immediate use of antibiotics for treating a fever or treating skin injuries by pouring antibiotics powders onto them[6, 11, 28]. Evidence mentioned earlier demonstrates that such misconceptions regarding therapeutic effects of antibiotics do exist among the general public. These facts give evidence to confirm that people are not able to differentiate the types of causal agents of infectious disease, (e.g.: bacteria, viruses, fungal) and they have very limited knowledge regarding the basic mechanism of how the antibiotics work.

In contrast to those misconceptions, people in this study had a sufficient knowledge regarding the risks of using antibiotics, such as antibiotic resistance and allergies. These findings are in line with most other studies from elsewhere[6, 11, 27–31], but in contrast to what was reported by the European study[5]. People in this study were familiar with the term “resistance” although information on resistance is not usually provided when purchasing antibiotics[32]. However, it should be noted that when lay people talk about “resistance”, this term could mean human resists to antibiotics rather than microorganisms to antibiotics. Another possibility is that they might perceive the term of resistance as “something dangerous”. Although people may have inappropriate understanding regarding the meaning of resistance, these findings, somehow, indicate their awareness regarding the risks of antibiotic use.

In this present study, association between beliefs and knowledge is negative and moderate. This means that the more appropriate knowledge people have, the less misconceptions they have. This correlation is likely to be held by the population and is higher for male, for younger, for those with higher education, and for those with higher income level. This finding suggests that women, older people, and those with lower formal education and income levels could be prioritized in any efforts for reducing misconceptions about antibiotic use.

Inappropriate use of antibiotics exists among Indonesians, as is indicated by the previous studies[17, 23]. Appropriate beliefs regarding antibiotic use may lead people becoming more aware of the disadvantages of using antibiotics inappropriately. Based on the findings of this present study, further studies are suggested. Firstly, a similar study needs to be conducted in rural areas of Indonesia, as this present study represents the urban people. Secondly, a better understanding is needed on the extent to which beliefs can influence people using antibiotics in inappropriate ways; for example using antibiotics without medical consultation. Thirdly, it is imperative to develop a sustainable intervention program to reduce misconceptions of antibiotic use and to increase public’s awareness about the risks of inappropriate use of antibiotics.

We believe that this study is useful in describing people’s knowledge and beliefs regarding antibiotic use among Indonesians in urban areas. The findings may be useful to help develop intervention to decrease misconceptions regarding antibiotic use and to increase people’s awareness regarding the risks of inappropriate use of antibiotics in the community.