A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY OF ANTIBIOTIC USAGE AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS

Abstract

Background: Antibiotics/antimicrobials constitute a major tool against infectious diseases in India especially due to host and environment factors like malnutrition, multiple vitamin deficiencies, overcrowding, illiteracy, poverty, poor sanitary facilities, low standards of personal hygiene and inadequate vector control.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire based study. It was done to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding antibiotic use and resistance. A pre-validated questionnaire prepared after a review of similar studies and scrutinized by subject experts has been used.

Results: 80.00% of respondents agreed that antibiotic resistance is an important and serious public health issue in the hospital. 80.00% were aware that bacteria are not responsible for causing common cold and influenza.

Conclusion: In our study, most of the students had good knowledge and were aware of the problem of antimicrobial resistance, but still used antibiotics for self-medication.

Keywords: Knowledge, Medical student, Antibiotic.