Antibiotics Usage and Avoidance in Germany and Poland: Attitudes and Knowledge of Patients, Physicians, and Pharmacists.

Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant global health threat, partly due to the overprescription of antibiotics. Understanding prescribers' behaviors and identifying knowledge gaps and misconceptions are essential for addressing antibiotic misuse and inappropriate use. Through online questionnaires, this study surveyed key stakeholders in outpatient antibiotic use in Germany (DE) and Poland (PL), including patients, physicians, and pharmacists. Despite generally good knowledge about antibiotics, discrepancies exist between physicians' perceptions and patients' actual expectations regarding antibiotic prescriptions. Physicians often misjudge patients' attitudes toward antibiotics, with many patients having a neutral stance. This study found a strong physician interest in non-antibiotic treatments and patient willingness to engage with information about antibiotics. Improved communication between healthcare providers and patients was identified as a potential measure for enhancing antimicrobial stewardship, with education on effective alternative treatments, such as symptomatic therapies, as a likely strategy to reduce antibiotic reliance.