Prasit Nakarin, Phimha Surachai, Nonthamat Ampawan, Nilnate Nathakon, Nidthumsakul Nattaporn, Sresutham Puwanart
Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Bangkok Hospital Khon Kaen, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Sci Rep. 2025 Feb 20;15(1):6220. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-89040-x.
The utilization of antibiotics among the geriatric population in Thailand has been markedly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. This investigation sought to analyze the correlation between antibiotic utilization and determinants such as pharmacy density, healthcare workforce, household internet accessibility, and income during the period of 2021-2023. A spatial examination employing panel regression was performed on data derived from Thailand's National Statistical Office Health and Welfare Survey 2023, encompassing all 77 provinces. The research scrutinized antibiotic usage trends among individuals aged 60 and above, associating them with diverse socioeconomic and healthcare access metrics. Notable spatial and temporal variations in antibiotic utilization were detected. The physician ratio demonstrated a negative association with antibiotic usage (Coefficient=- 0. 613, P = 0.035), while household internet accessibility showed a positive relationship (Coefficient = 0.003, P = 0.001). Household income exhibited a slight negative effect (Coefficient=- 0.0002, P = 0.024). No statistically significant associations were found between antibiotic usage and pharmacy density or nurse ratio. The study clarifies complex interrelations between healthcare accessibility, socioeconomic determinants, and antibiotic usage among the elderly in post-COVID-19 Thailand. These results indicate the necessity for targeted interventions to foster judicious antibiotic utilization, including enhancements in healthcare accessibility, the development of dependable digital health infrastructures, and the execution of income-sensitive health education initiatives.
泰国老年人群抗生素的使用情况受到了新冠疫情的显著影响。本调查旨在分析2021年至2023年期间抗生素使用与药房密度、医疗保健人员、家庭互联网接入情况和收入等决定因素之间的相关性。利用面板回归进行了空间分析，数据来源于泰国国家统计局2023年健康与福利调查，涵盖了所有77个省份。该研究仔细审查了60岁及以上人群的抗生素使用趋势，并将其与各种社会经济和医疗保健可及性指标相关联。研究发现抗生素使用存在显著的空间和时间差异。医生比例与抗生素使用呈负相关（系数=-0.613，P=0.035），而家庭互联网接入情况则呈正相关（系数=0.003，P=0.001）。家庭收入显示出轻微的负面影响（系数=-0.0002，P=0.024）。未发现抗生素使用与药房密度或护士比例之间存在统计学上的显著关联。该研究阐明了新冠疫情后泰国老年人医疗保健可及性、社会经济决定因素与抗生素使用之间的复杂相互关系。这些结果表明有必要采取针对性干预措施，以促进合理使用抗生素，包括改善医疗保健可及性、发展可靠的数字健康基础设施以及开展对收入敏感的健康教育活动。
