Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns of Dental Interns: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Although the undergraduate curriculum teaches about the uses of antibiotics, the interns still encounter barriers to appropriate antibiotic prescription during the internship. This study explores the dental interns’ patterns of antibiotic use and their knowledge about antibiotics. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted on 290 interns based on an online survey in 26 dental colleges. The study period was from June 2023 to August 2023. The questionnaire is made up of sociodemographic characteristics, antibiotics knowledge, attitude and perception towards prescribing antibiotics. The data were collected and analysed with descriptive statistics and results were expressed as frequencies or percentages. Results: The most common antibiotic prescribed by the interns is amoxicillin. One hundred and twenty-five (43%) of participants believe that antibiotics are to be prescribed for all types of dental infections. Of the study participants, 51 (17.6%) perceive that antibiotics can treat viral infections. The results also show that interns prescribe antibiotics based on symptoms and for inappropriate clinical situations. Conclusion: Based on our findings, it can be concluded that dental interns need more education regarding antibiotic prescription, especially in advising antibiotics for various clinical conditions. The students should be made more aware of the antibiotic guidelines and protocols.