Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Antibiotic Use and Resistance Among the General Adult Population in Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia

Background Antibiotic resistance has become a global concern, contributing to significant morbidity and mortality. The prominent cause of antibiotic resistance remains the overuse and inappropriate use of antibiotics. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance among the general adult population. Methodology A cross-sectional survey was conducted among the general adult population using a self-administered, validated questionnaire with 21 questions. A chi-square test and binary logistic regression analysis were applied to recognize factors associated with KAP and antibiotic use. Results Out of 562 participants, the majority were female (408, 72.6%) and between the ages of 18 and 25 (489, 87%). The study findings revealed that most participants had poor knowledge (501, 89.1%), inadequate attitudes (405, 72.1%), and inappropriate practices (282, 50.2%) regarding antibiotic use. Misconceptions were common, with 360 (64%) participants believing antibiotics are effective against viral infections and 237 (42.2%) unaware that inappropriate use and incomplete antibiotic courses can lead to antibiotic resistance. The binary logistic regression analysis revealed that respondents with postgraduate and marital status were significant predictors of better knowledge and more appropriate attitudes about antibiotic use. A significant positive Spearman correlation was observed between participants' KAP scores (P<0.001). Conclusion This study identified crucial gaps in KAP regarding antibiotic use among the population of Riyadh province. Our findings provide valuable insights for health policymakers to design targeted intervention programs for deficient groups to enhance the population's KAP regarding the appropriate use of antibiotics.