TY - JOUR T1 - Cross-Sectional Facility-Based Study on Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Antibiotic Use and Antibiotic Resistance among Healthcare Workers in Monrovia, Liberia A1 - Hans Müller A1 - Anna Schmidt A1 - Thomas Weber JF - Annals of Pharmacy Education, Safety, and Public Health Advocacy JO - Ann Pharm Educ Saf Public Health Advocacy SN - 3108-4850 Y1 - 2024 VL - 4 IS - 1 DO - 10.51847/iTiBDhrNOw SP - 136 EP - 146 N2 - Antibiotic resistance continues to pose a serious threat to healthcare systems worldwide. Healthcare professionals are directly involved in prescribing, dispensing, and administering antibiotics. This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance among healthcare professionals at a major tertiary hospital in Monrovia, Liberia. Researchers performed a cross-sectional hospital-based survey between January and June 2023. A total of 61 healthcare workers at ELWA Hospital participated. Using purposive sampling, professionals from different roles answered a structured questionnaire focused on antibiotic use and resistance. Data analysis was conducted in SPSS version 25, applying descriptive statistics for participant profiles and inferential statistics to identify relationships among variables. Participants' ages ranged from 20 to 60 years, with an average of 40.7 (± 5). Nurses made up the largest proportion of the sample at 59%. A substantial majority (68.9%) correctly rejected the idea that antibiotics work against viral infections (OR = 0.45; P = 0.020). Still, over one-third (36.1%) thought it was fine to discontinue antibiotics after symptoms disappeared, while 24.6% supported reusing leftover antibiotics (OR = 0.33; P = 0.002). Encouragingly, 72.1% and 70.5% stated that they never take antibiotics for body pain or headaches (OR = 3.67; P = 0.001, and OR = 4.78; P < 0.001, respectively). However, 39.3% reported occasionally or regularly keeping leftover antibiotics at home, and a similar proportion (39.3%) viewed early cessation of antibiotic courses as acceptable (OR = 0.36; P = 0.016).Findings indicate that significant deficiencies remain in healthcare workers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance, despite some areas of good understanding. Widespread misconceptions around stopping treatment prematurely and reusing leftover antibiotics persist. The results underscore the urgent need for targeted educational initiatives and enhanced antibiotic stewardship in Liberian healthcare facilities. UR - https://smerpub.com/article/cross-sectional-facility-based-study-on-knowledge-attitudes-and-practices-regarding-antibiotic-use-qarbndc3jrekgre ER -