Antibiotic resistance awareness in the UAE: Nationwide insights on knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions in the post-outbreak era

Objectives: To provide insights into public knowledge and practices toward antibiotic resistance as well as common behaviours related to antibiotic use and resistance in the UAE. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional, observational investigation into the knowledge, and attitudes, of UAE residents toward antibiotic resistance, using a convenience sampling approach. From May to June 2022, the survey was distributed throughout the seven emirates of the UAE. The methodology was adapted from the WHO’s “Antibiotic Resistance: Multi-Country Public Awareness Survey”. The study followed the Strengthening Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology reporting (STROBE) guideline for cross-sectional studies. Results: A total of 1074 individuals completed the survey. Approximately two thirds of the respondents (66.0%) were familiar with the term “Antibiotic resistance”. The percentage of respondents who believed that antibiotics could be effective against viral infections decreased from 57.8% to 45.4% after the COVID-19 pandemic period. Additionally, 79.1% of respondents incorrectly believed that antibiotic resistance occurs when their bodies become resistant to antibiotics. Studying in the medical field and having a postgraduate degree were significant predictors of adequate knowledge (Odds ratios were 2.15 and 1.77, respectively). Conclusion: The participants in this study were generally aware of antibiotic resistance; however, incorrect descriptions of antibiotic resistance were frequently encountered. Respondents involved in the medical sector during their studies and those with higher educational degree were more likely to possess adequate knowledge about antibiotic resistance. This evidence can be used to contextualize and enhance the efficiency, effectiveness and success of antimicrobial resistance interventions.