Factors influencing compliance with prophylactic antibiotic use in surgery at Tien Giang provincial general hospital

Abstract

This study analyzed factors influencing compliance with the use of prophylactic antibiotics (PA) in surgical units at Tien Giang Provincial General Hospital in 2022, employing a cross-sectional descriptive method combined with quantitative and qualitative approaches. The quantitative research involved 360 patients, while the qualitative research included 17 individuals comprising hospital leaders, department heads, deputy heads of the Pharmacy department, doctors, and nurses. The results showed that only 3.89% of patients adhered to PA use guidelines, with the criterion of antibiotic selection having the lowest adherence rate at 4.72%. Positive factors influencing PA compliance were related to patient characteristics and the nature of the surgery, while negative factors included habits and work experience of medical staff, psychological aspects in treatment, a lack of specific guidelines for PA use, supervision and inspection procedures, and the availability of antibiotics. The study highlighted that hospital management and healthcare staff practices were primary risks for reduced compliance with PA use. The findings indicate that strengthening education, improving monitoring systems, and ensuring the availability of antibiotics help enhance patient care quality, reduce treatment costs, and limit the increase in antibiotic resistance.