Assessment of knowledge, attitudes and practices about antibiotic resistance among medical students in India

Background To reduce the magnitude of antimicrobial resistance, there is a need to change the knowledge and behavior of future prescribers regarding use and prescription of antibiotics. This can be ensured through the appropriate training of next generation doctors and medical students. But, before planning or strengthening any teaching or training program for any group, it is required to have a conclusive evidence about knowledge, attitude and practices of that group. With this background this study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitudes and the practices of medical students in India with respect to antibiotic resistance and usage Methods It was a cross-sectional study which was done online through google forms. A semi-structured questionnaire containing a five point Likert scale was used for the data collection. The questionnaire was sent to medical students across India by sharing link through contacts of Medical Students Association of India. Respondent-driven sampling technique was also adopted for the study. Data was analyzed using SPSS v.25 and Microsoft Excel 2016. Results The overall mean score of awareness for the students was 4.36 + 0.39. As compared to first year students, mean score of awareness was significantly higher among students of all the years. A significantly better awareness was also observed among pre final year students as compared to other years. Variable practices have been observed regarding use of antibiotics among medical students. Conclusion The awareness level of medical students regarding antibiotics and its resistance was quite satisfactory. As far as attitude and practices are concerned, there is a significant need for improvements.