Knowledge about antibiotics and antibiotic resistance among health-related students in a Saudi University

Introduction: Antibiotic resistance is a threat to public health and safety globally. The inadequate undergraduate education on antibiotic stewardship may contribute to the clinical malpractice of antibiotics, causing serious consequences toward patient health. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate th...

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Main Authors: Zafar Akbar, Nahed Alquwez, Abdulellah Alsolais, Suhas Kaniyarakkal Thazha, Mohammad Dabeer Ahmad, Jonas Preposi Cruz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2021-07-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/12329
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author Zafar Akbar
Nahed Alquwez
Abdulellah Alsolais
Suhas Kaniyarakkal Thazha
Mohammad Dabeer Ahmad
Jonas Preposi Cruz
author_facet Zafar Akbar
Nahed Alquwez
Abdulellah Alsolais
Suhas Kaniyarakkal Thazha
Mohammad Dabeer Ahmad
Jonas Preposi Cruz
author_sort Zafar Akbar
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Antibiotic resistance is a threat to public health and safety globally. The inadequate undergraduate education on antibiotic stewardship may contribute to the clinical malpractice of antibiotics, causing serious consequences toward patient health. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the knowledge of future healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia on antibiotics, antibiotic use, and antibiotic resistance. The factors influencing the students’ knowledge were also determined. Methodology: A cross-sectional study using a survey questionnaire was carried out among 284 Clinical Laboratory Science, Nursing, and Pharmacy students in Saudi Arabia from January to April 2019. Multiple regression analyses were performed to identify the factors influencing the students’ knowledge regarding antibiotics, antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance. Results: The study found that students have above-average knowledge of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance, whereas their knowledge of antibiotic use was inadequate. Several factors, including gender, program, academic level, awareness about antibiotic resistance, attendance to seminars/training, and belief on the seriousness of antibiotic resistance problem, affect students’ knowledge. The findings suggest that the knowledge of students in these areas should be improved. Conclusions: Misconceptions are prominent in certain areas, such as in the concept of antibiotics and their uses. The findings prompt immediate interventions to improve students’ knowledge of antibiotics and resistance. Curricular contents must be reviewed and enhanced to suit the specific learning needs of students in terms of these concepts.
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issn 1972-2680
language English
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publisher The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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series Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
spelling doaj-art-3cec53fa01e5490fb9d2d11a5509ec9e2025-08-20T02:57:52ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802021-07-01150710.3855/jidc.12329Knowledge about antibiotics and antibiotic resistance among health-related students in a Saudi UniversityZafar Akbar0Nahed Alquwez1Abdulellah Alsolais2Suhas Kaniyarakkal Thazha3Mohammad Dabeer Ahmad4Jonas Preposi Cruz5Clinical Laboratory Science Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Shaqra University, Al Dawadmi, Saudi ArabiaNursing Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Shaqra University, Al Dawadmi, Saudi ArabiaNursing Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Shaqra University, Al Dawadmi, Saudi ArabiaClinical Laboratory Science Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Shaqra University, Al Dawadmi, Saudi ArabiaCollege of Pharmacy, Shaqra University, Al Dawadmi, Saudi ArabiaNursing Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Shaqra University, Al Dawadmi, Saudi Arabia Introduction: Antibiotic resistance is a threat to public health and safety globally. The inadequate undergraduate education on antibiotic stewardship may contribute to the clinical malpractice of antibiotics, causing serious consequences toward patient health. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the knowledge of future healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia on antibiotics, antibiotic use, and antibiotic resistance. The factors influencing the students’ knowledge were also determined. Methodology: A cross-sectional study using a survey questionnaire was carried out among 284 Clinical Laboratory Science, Nursing, and Pharmacy students in Saudi Arabia from January to April 2019. Multiple regression analyses were performed to identify the factors influencing the students’ knowledge regarding antibiotics, antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance. Results: The study found that students have above-average knowledge of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance, whereas their knowledge of antibiotic use was inadequate. Several factors, including gender, program, academic level, awareness about antibiotic resistance, attendance to seminars/training, and belief on the seriousness of antibiotic resistance problem, affect students’ knowledge. The findings suggest that the knowledge of students in these areas should be improved. Conclusions: Misconceptions are prominent in certain areas, such as in the concept of antibiotics and their uses. The findings prompt immediate interventions to improve students’ knowledge of antibiotics and resistance. Curricular contents must be reviewed and enhanced to suit the specific learning needs of students in terms of these concepts. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/12329AntibioticsAntibiotic resistanceclinical laboratory scienceknowledgenursing studentspharmacy students
spellingShingle Zafar Akbar
Nahed Alquwez
Abdulellah Alsolais
Suhas Kaniyarakkal Thazha
Mohammad Dabeer Ahmad
Jonas Preposi Cruz
Knowledge about antibiotics and antibiotic resistance among health-related students in a Saudi University
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
Antibiotics
Antibiotic resistance
clinical laboratory science
knowledge
nursing students
pharmacy students
title Knowledge about antibiotics and antibiotic resistance among health-related students in a Saudi University
title_full Knowledge about antibiotics and antibiotic resistance among health-related students in a Saudi University
title_fullStr Knowledge about antibiotics and antibiotic resistance among health-related students in a Saudi University
title_full_unstemmed Knowledge about antibiotics and antibiotic resistance among health-related students in a Saudi University
title_short Knowledge about antibiotics and antibiotic resistance among health-related students in a Saudi University
title_sort knowledge about antibiotics and antibiotic resistance among health related students in a saudi university
topic Antibiotics
Antibiotic resistance
clinical laboratory science
knowledge
nursing students
pharmacy students
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/12329
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AT suhaskaniyarakkalthazha knowledgeaboutantibioticsandantibioticresistanceamonghealthrelatedstudentsinasaudiuniversity
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