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KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF DOCTORS AGAINST COMMON COLD AND ITS MANAGEMENT

Dr. Fatima Zahid Butt, Dr. Muteen Ahmed, Shabi ul Khadeeja Cheema

Background: Misuse of antimicrobials upper respiratory tract infections like common cold is across the board in clinical practice. Abundant prescription of antibiotics by physicians resulted in increased number of antibiotics resistance. This leads to the objective of evaluating the percentage of doctors in Lahore prescribing antibiotics for the management of common cold and to access about their knowledge in the prevention of the spread of this disease. Methods: It is a cross-sectional descriptive study, conducted in Lahore over a period of 06 months –from May to November, 2018. Preformed questionnaire about the disease spread and its management was distributed among 100 randomly selected doctors across the Lahore city from both public and private sector. Results: Twenty one percent of the doctors prescribe antibiotics for common cold. 43 (43%) doctors correctly answered that mean incubation duration for common cold is 1–2 days. Seventy three (73%) responded correctly that cold weather enhance susceptibility to common cold.48 (48%) responded right by opting that regular frequent hand-washing habit with good quality soaps is the most effective method to prevent spread of this disease in day-to-day life. Conclusion: Antibiotics are being prescribed for treatment of common cold by a large proportion of doctors. There is insufficient knowledge among health care providers which is one of factors aggravate or alleviate common cold symptoms as well as the methodology by which these infections can be prevented. Keywords: Antibiotics; Antimicrobial Resistance; Common Cold; Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTIs); Viruses.

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