A study on knowledge, attitude and practice of antibiotic usage and resistance among medical students in a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance is a worldwide public health concern due to improper usage, increases morbidity, prolongs hospital stay duration and risk of mortality. Antibiotics are magic bullets against many microbial and bacterial infections. Doctors are using antibiotics in almost all treatments starting from the common cold to serious open-heart surgery. This study was done to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice on antibiotic usage and its resistance against microbial infections. About 169 medical undergraduates were briefed about the KAP questionnaire (detailed assessment of 4 parameters for knowledge, 5 parameters for attitude and 4 parameters for practice) and distributed to third year and final year medical students. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse the various parameters. About 83.72% of the participants were aware that excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics causes ineffective therapy. About 53.84% were aware about the adverse effect profile of the antibiotic. 65.22% of the participants felt the emerging issue of antibiotic resistance due to inappropriate drug usage. They were conscious that antibiotics are advantageous for bacterial infection. The students had a good attitude, a majority had moderate knowledge and practice towards antibiotics use. The medical professionals are to be well trained about the rational prescribing pattern of antibiotics, adverse effects of drugs and antibiotic resistance.