Knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of French medical students about antibiotic prescribing and resistance

Abstract

ObjectivesWe had for aim to learn about medical students’ knowledge and perspectives on antibiotic prescribing and bacterial resistance. MethodsPenultimate and final year students at a French medical school were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey in summer 2012. ResultsThe response rate was 20% (60/297). Penultimate and final year students gave similar answers. Students felt more confident in diagnosing an infection, and less confident in choosing the correct dose and interval of antibiotic administration. Seventy-nine percent of students wanted more training on antibiotic treatments. Sixty-nine percent of students knew that antibiotic prescriptions were inappropriate or unnecessary in 21–60% of the cases, and 95% believed that these prescriptions were unethical. Only 27% knew that more than 80% of antibiotic prescriptions were made in community practice. Students believed that the most important causes of resistance were that too many prescriptions were made and broad-spectrum antibiotic use; 27% believed poor hand hygiene was “not at all important”. Ninety-four percent believed resistance was a national problem, and 69% mentioned it as a problem in their hospital. Sixty-three percent thought that the antibiotics they would prescribe would contribute to resistance, and 96% thought resistance would be a greater problem in the future. Twenty-two percent knew MRSA bacteremia rates had decreased over the past decade in France. ConclusionsMedical students are aware that antibiotic resistance is a current and growing problem. They would like more training on antibiotic selection.