CLINICAL AND BEHAVIORAL PRACTICES OF PRIMARY HEALTHCARE PHYSICIANS IN ANTIBIOTICS PRESCRIBING IN GREECE.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To evaluate primary health physicians' clinical and behavioral practices towards antibiotics administration in a specific region in Greece. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: A cross sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire in all structures of primary health care (PHC) of the Peloponnese Region. The study was conducted in May-October 2020. RESULTS: Results: In total, 306 out of 404 primary healthcare physicians completed the questionnaire (response rate of 75.8%). Our results showed that most of physicians used to prescribing antibiotics empirically in common diseases, except for the prevention of secondary respiratory tract infection. Overall, 66.3% answered that they do not feel diagnostic uncertainty that would lead them to prescribe antibiotics. Approximately 40% of the physicians stated an increase on antibiotics use and patients demand for antibiotic prescribing, however 71.4% "rarely/never" affected by this requirement. 51.9% of the sample used to prescribed brand name antibiotics. Statistically significant differences were found between demographic and professional characteristics, and physicians' clinical and behavioral practices (p≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Our findings could provide decision makers with information on how to manage antibiotic prescribing in primary health care in the country, focusing mainly on the use of specific diagnostic tests as well as relevant guidelines and protocols for changing prescription behavior.