Addressing antimicrobial resistance in Nigerian hospitals: exploring physicians prescribing behavior, knowledge, and perception of antimicrobial resistance and stewardship programs.
INTRODUCTION
We assessed the knowledge of, attitude toward antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and practice of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) among physicians in Nigeria to provide future guidance to the Nigerian National Action Plan for AMR.


METHODS
A descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire-based study explored the physicians' self-reported practice of antibiotic prescribing, knowledge, attitude, and practice of AMR and components of ASPs.


RESULTS
The majority (217; 67.2%) of respondents prescribed antibiotics daily in their clinical practice AMR was recognized as a global and local problem by 308 (95.4%) and 262 (81.1%) respondents, respectively. Only 91 (28.2%) of respondents have ever heard of antibiotic stewardship. The median AMR knowledge score was 40 (19-45)out of 45while that for ASP was 46.0(32-57) out of 60. There was significant statistical difference between the ASP median scores among the medical specialties category (P value <0.0001) More respondents had good knowledge of AMR than ASPs (82.7% versus 36.5%; p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSION
Respondents in this study were more knowledgeable about AMR than AMS and its core components.
['Babatola|Adefunke O|AO|0000-0002-8534-7278', 'Fadare|Joseph O|JO|0000-0002-5641-1402', 'Olatunya|Oladele S|OS|0000-0003-2564-3064', 'Obiako|Reginald|R|0000-0003-1769-8110', 'Enwere|Okezie|O|', 'Kalungia|Aubrey|A|0000-0003-2554-1236', 'Ojo|Temitope O|TO|0000-0003-1899-5213', 'Sunmonu|Taofiki A|TA|0000-0003-3020-4816', 'Desalu|Olufemi|O|0000-0003-2956-1664', 'Godman|Brian|B|0000-0001-6539-6972']
D000328:Adult D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents D000073602:Antimicrobial Stewardship D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial D005260:Female D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice D006761:Hospitals D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D009549:Nigeria D010820:Physicians D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires D055815:Young Adult
Nigeria Antibiotic stewardship antibiotic prescription inappropriate use of antimicrobials rational use of antimicrobials tertiary healthcare facilities