(1) Background: Antibiotic resistance is a serious health issue, and raising public awareness of it is crucial to combating it. This study aimed to assess the socio-demographic factors associated with knowledge of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance in Malaysia. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out between April 2022 and March 2023. Malaysian adults aged ≥18 years old and able to understand English or Malay were recruited. During data collection, the WHO questionnaire “Antibiotic Resistance, Multi-Country Public Awareness Survey” was used. Data were collected across 14 states in Malaysia. (3) Results: A total of 517 participants completed the questionnaire. Most participants were females (67.9%), aged 30–49 (46%), and from central Malaysia (69.8%). Most participants (98.5%) reported taking antibiotics. A misconception presented was that sore throats, fevers, colds, and flu can be treated with antibiotics. A total of 58.8% of participants had high knowledge of antibiotic usage (scores 12–15), while 64% had high knowledge of antibiotic resistance (scores 9–14). Findings indicate that increasing age, income, and education were associated with higher knowledge. (4) Conclusions: This study highlights the knowledge deficiency of antibiotic resistance among Malaysians. Educational programs should engage a younger and lower socio-economic population to increase awareness.
10 May 2021 in International Journal Of Clinical Practice
Background Patient safety represents a global issue which leads to potentially avoidable morbidity and mortality. The healthcare providers perception and their role are utmost important in delivering quality care and patient safety. This study aimed to determine the interdisciplinary differences in patient safety culture in a tertiary university hospital. Method A cross‐sectional study using the Safety Attitude Questionnaire (SAQ) self‐administered electronically in the English and Malay languages to evaluate safety culture domains. A positive percentage agreement scores of 60% was considered satisfactory. Comparisons were made between doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, nursing assistants and support staff. Results Of 6562 respondents, 5724 (80.4%) completed the questionnaire; 3930 (74.5%) women, 2263 (42.9%) nurses, and 1812 (34.2%) had 6‐10 years of working experience. The mean overall positive percentage agreement scores were 66.2 (range=31.1 to 84.7%), with job satisfaction (72.3±21.9%) and stress recognition (58.3±25.6%) representing the highest and lowest mean domain scores, respectively. Differences were observed between all five job categories. Linear regression analyses revealed that the other four job categories scored lower in teamwork, safety climate, job satisfaction, and working conditions compared to nurses. Conclusions The overall mean SAQ score was above the satisfactory level, with unsatisfactory percentage agreement scores in the stress recognition domain. Interventions to improve patient safety culture should be developed, focusing on stress management.
Background: Patient safety represents a global issue which leads to potentially avoidable morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to determine the inter-professional differences in patient safety culture in a tertiary university hospital. Method: A cross-sectional study using the Safety Attitude Questionnaire (SAQ) self-administered electronically in the English and Malay languages to evaluate safety culture domains. A positive percentage agreement score of 60% was considered satisfactory. Comparisons were made between clinicians, nurses, allied health professionals, ward attendants and support staff. Results: Of 6562 potential respondents, 5724 (80.4%) completed the questionnaire; 3930 (74.5%) women, 2263 (42.9%) nurses, and 1812 (34.2%) had 6-10 years of working experience. The mean overall positive percentage agreement scores were 66.2 (range=31.1 to 84.7%), with job satisfaction (72.3±21.9%) and stress recognition (58.3±25.6%) representing the highest and lowest mean domain scores respectively. Discussion: Differences were observed between all five job categories. Linear regression analyses revealed that the other four job categories scored lower in teamwork, safety culture, job satisfaction, and working conditions compared to nurses. Conclusions: The overall mean SAQ score was above the satisfactory level, with unsatisfactory percentage agreement scores in the stress recognition domain. Interventions to improve patient safety culture should be developed, focusing on stress management.
26 February 2021 in Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Health Care
Background: Falls in hospitalized older patients lead to increased length of stay and poorer discharge outcomes. The Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP) represents a quality improvement intervention for patient safety. Objective: To evaluate CUSP implementation for the prevention of falls at a teaching hospital. Method: An interdisciplinary CUSP team, received a four-hour online module and one-day face-to-face training. The intervention was developed using the WHO implementation science plan-do-study-act framework. Process evaluation was conducted using the UK Medical Research Council framework. The primary outcome measure of patient safety culture was determined using the Safety Attitude Questionnaire (SAQ), while annual fall rates were considered the secondary outcome measure. Results: Safety rounds were conducted during the two-year intervention period, each attended by five to eight HCPs, with nine to 29 patients reviewed each month. Risk factors, plans and actions were administered to individual patients, while local issues were identified and resolved through engagement of senior executives. SAQ domains increased from before (n=39) to after (n=30) the intervention of CUSP. Fall rates reduced from 11.18 per 1,000 bed days pre-implementation to zero falls post-implementation. Conclusion: Improvements in patient safety culture were observed after the implementation of CUSP alongside a reduction in fall rates.
25 September 2023 in Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness