Date Approved

1999

Graduate Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Health Sciences (M.H.S.)

Degree Program

Health Professions

Abstract

Our society, which has enjoyed the benefits of antibiotics for over fifty years, is now experiencing an increase in bacterial resistance. One contributing factor is a lack of patient understanding about antibiotics resulting in their inappropriate usage. This study examined the effect of patient education in antibiotics and bacterial resistance on patient knowledge.

Adults from various medical facilities (a student health services clinic, an urgent care office, a family practice, and a community convenience sample) were given a ten-question survey designed to assess their knowledge of antibiotics and resistance. Half of the participants were randomly given an educational brochure to read before taking the survey, the other half received the survey and the brochure.

The control group contained 34 subjects and had a mean score of 9.00 with 1.371 for the standard deviation. The experimental group contained 31 subjects with a mean score of 9.77 and .425 for the standard deviation. The t-test statistic was -3.132 with a P value of .0015. The control group answered 36 questions incorrectly in comparison to 6 in the experimental group.

This demonstrated the effectiveness of patient education on patient knowledge of antibiotics and bacterial resistance.

Comments

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