Knowledge and Attitude towards Antibiotic Use and Bacterial Resistance among Medical Students at PUMHS Nawabshah.

Abstract

Background: A growing public health issue around the globe is resistance to antibiotics and it is concerned with deficiency of knowledge in part to physicians and pharmacists. So it is important to stress this concern towards healthcare professional students. Objective: This research had been conducted to evaluate the awareness and assertiveness towards antibiotics practice and bacterial resistance amongst the MBBS students of different universities.    Design: Current study is a descriptive cross sectional. Sample size: A 260 students from all professional years of MBBS. Place of study: Current study was performed at PUMHS Nawabshah, Sindh Pakistan. Data collection and analysis: A predesigned, pretested questionnaire was used for collection of data. Questionnaires were divided into two parts; knowledge, and attitude towards antibiotic use and their resistance. Data were analyzed by Independent T-Test, using SPSS Version 20. Results: This study analyzed that 499a of the total study population had poor knowledge concerning the use of antibiotics and their resistance. Almost half (51la) of the total study population had good knowledge concerning the use of antibiotics and their resistance. Additionally, 42' a of the total population had poor attitude concerning the use of antibiotics and their resistance. Students who have no family affiliation with the medical field have 6.719 times more poor knowledge than students who have family affiliation with the medical field. Students with poor knowledge contributed to being poor in attitude 2.342 times. Conclusion: The knowledge and attitude concerning antibiotics use was good in study population, but still it needs that there should be proper, targeted and vital knowledge and attitude concerning the use of antibiotics especially in junior medical undergraduates. Activities such as seminars and workshops regarding antibiotics usage are needed to emphasize students.