Knowledge and Attitude Towards Antibiotic Usage: A Questionnaire-Based Survey Among Pre-Professional Students at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences on Jeddah Campus, Saudi Arabia.

Syed Faisal Zaidi,Muhammad Anwar Khan,Ismail Memon,Abdulaziz Nagro,Muath Alsalmi,Aslam Khan,Hidaya Almansouri,Rakan Alotaibi

doi:10.3390/pharmacy8010005

Abstract

Introduction: Knowledge and attitudes towards proper antibiotic usage among students in medical and other health allied fields play a vital role in limiting the pandemic of antibiotic resistance. This study aimed to assess knowledge and attitudes toward antibiotic usage among pre-professional students at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences on Jeddah Campus, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A self-administered cross-sectional survey of 347 first year students was conducted at the College of Science and Health Professions, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences using a validated questionnaire. Results: Nearly 63% of the students had a moderate level of knowledge. Two third of the students (69.7%) correctly knew that antibiotics are indicated for the treatment of bacterial infections. However, about 36% of the students incorrectly thought that antibiotics are also used to treat viral infections, while 28.5% were not sure. Only 38.8% of the students were aware of antibiotic resistance phenomena in relation to the overuse of antibiotics. Furthermore, only 27.3% correctly knew that penicillin is an antibiotic, and 74.4% were not sure if Paracetamol is an antibiotic. With regard to attitudes, 25.7% believed that taking antibiotics when having cold symptoms could help them to recover faster, while 39.6% expected antibiotics to be prescribed for common cold symptoms. Conclusion: The students have misconception regarding antibiotic use indications. Therefore, awareness campaigns are needed to promote student’s use of antibiotics in young generations particularly among the pre-professional health sciences students.

Highlights

Knowledge and attitudes towards proper antibiotic usage among students in medical and other health allied fields play a vital role in limiting the pandemic of antibiotic resistance.This study aimed to assess knowledge and attitudes toward antibiotic usage among pre-professional students at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences on Jeddah Campus, Saudi Arabia
An example of inappropriate prescribing is with the presentation of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) that are caused by viral infections, not bacterial infections [5,6]
A total of 347 questionnaires were distributed to first year students attending College of Science and Health Professions (COSHP) at KSAU-HS, Jeddah campus

Summary

Introduction

Knowledge and attitudes towards proper antibiotic usage among students in medical and other health allied fields play a vital role in limiting the pandemic of antibiotic resistance.This study aimed to assess knowledge and attitudes toward antibiotic usage among pre-professional students at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences on Jeddah Campus, Saudi Arabia. Knowledge and attitudes towards proper antibiotic usage among students in medical and other health allied fields play a vital role in limiting the pandemic of antibiotic resistance. Pharmacy 2020, 8, 5 developing countries, has contributed to the emergence of antibiotic resistance [3]. This trend has led to the ineffectiveness of many antibiotics to treat many infectious diseases that were once treatable, leading to a tremendous increase in mortality and morbidity [4]. One of the misuses contributing to the ineffectiveness of antibiotics in the era of resistance is the inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics for illnesses where there are insignificant clinical benefits to its use. Antibiotics are manufactured to destroy or inhibit the growth of bacteria only and cannot be used to eradicate viruses [6]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion