Chung-Yen Lu¹, Pei-Chun Chen¹, and Fung-Chang J. Sung². (1) Institute of Environmental Health, National Taiwan University, Room 1521, No.1, Sec. 1, Ren-ai Rd., Jhongjheng District, Taipei City 100, Taiwan (R.O.C.), Taipei, Taiwan, 886-2-2312-3456 ext 8461, d89844003@ntu.edu.tw, (2) Public Health, China Medical University Dapartment of Public Health, No.91, Hseuh Shih Rd., Taichung City 404, Taiwan (R.O.C.), Taichung, Taiwan

Microbial resistance to antibiotics has been associated with inadequate use and abuse of antibiotics. To investigate the prevalence of and association with inadequate use of the medicine, we conducted a population based telephone survey of randomly selected adults aged 20 years and above in October-December 2002 in Taiwan. Information collected included social demographic status, knowledge of and use of antibiotics, etc. Among the respondents, 1160 (48%) reported at least one experience of using antibiotics, but 78.5% (n = 911) of these respondents had failed to be in compliance with physicians' orders to complete the whole course of medication. Associations of inadequate use of antibiotics were no statistical differences across all age groups and occupations. Respondents with high school education had the highest rate of inadequate use of the medicine (p = 0.06). The most important factor associated with better compliance was knowledge in antibiotics. The rate of inadequate antibiotics use decreased from 91.7% for those with the knowledge scores of <4 points to 58.8% for those with the scores of 10-14 points. After adjustment for age, sex, education and type of media exposure, individuals with knowledge scores of 10-14 points were at low risk of inadequate antibiotics use compared with that of <4 points (Odds ratio = 0.10, 95% confidence interval = 0.04-0.27). This study suggests that a good size of population in Taiwan are lacking of antibiotics knowledge. The health care authority needs to take aggressive strategies to promote population become aware of adequate knowledge of and practice of the antibiotics medication.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• Evaluate prevalence of inadequate use of antibiotics in population in Taiwan.
• Analyze the variables associated with inadequate use of the medicine in population in Taiwan.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.