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A cross-sectional survey of community pharmacist's knowledge, behavior and attitude toward antibiotic dispensation, Southern Karnataka, India

Aim: The study was conducted to determine the knowledge, attitude/perceptions, and behavior of the community pharmacists in the Southern Karnataka district. Settings and Design: The study was a cross-sectional survey conducted with the help of a questionnaire containing open and close-ended questions and Likert-scale-based response items. Materials and Methods: Questionnaires were distributed to pharmacists by simple random sampling. Statistical Analysis: The data were analyzed by Fisher's test and Chi-square test for association between knowledge, attitude, and practices and sociodemographic categories. Results: Majority of the pharmacists considered the use of antibiotics in livestock and agriculture as the reason for antibiotic resistance. All of the pharmacists agreed that refusing to dispense antibiotics without prescription will negatively hit sales. Conclusion: It is imperative to educate pharmacists about rules and regulations regarding antibiotic dispensation. They need to be sensitized about the negative impact of nonprescription antibiotic use on antibiotic resistance and public health.