Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Antibiotic Use and Resistance among Medical and Sciences Students of International Islamic University Malaysia.

Abstract

Introduction: Antibiotic resistance is a significant public health concern that can affect both human and environmental health. The use of antibiotics in agriculture can contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can spread to humans through contaminated food or water. Educating the public on antibiotic resistance threats is crucial, and this can be achieved through well-informed medical and science students using practical and simple terms. Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice of antibiotic use among medical and sciences students of International Islamic University Malaysia. Methodology: The study was cross-sectional, and the study instrument was developed through an extensive literature search and validated by medical and science students. A pilot study was conducted to determine reliability, and data was analyzed using SPSS version 26 with descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The study included 312 respondents, with 154 (49.2%) from the Faculty of Medicine and 159 (50.8%) from the Faculty of Science. The majority of respondents had adequate knowledge related to antibiotics. Age and faculty were associated with knowledge level, while faculty and attendance at training and workshops were associated with practice level. There were no significant associations between demographic variables (such as gender and nationality) and knowledge, attitude, and practice levels among medical and science students, except for faculty of participants. Conclusion: The students demonstrated a good understanding of antibiotic resistance, with medical students showing slightly better knowledge than science students. The study suggests conducting future studies with an interventional design to improve medical students' knowledge and attitudes towards antibiotic use and resistance.