Abstract

STUDY ON KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE ABOUT ANTIBIOTIC USE AND ITS RESISTANCE AMONG HEALTH SCIENCE STUDENTS AND GENERAL PUBLIC IN TUMKUR, KARNATAKA.

H. B. Kavya*, Reya Merin Biju and Sunil Soman

ABSTRACT

Background: Antibiotic resistance emerges as a major threat globally. Imprudent use of antibiotics is the key driver to the advent and dissemination of resistant bacterial strains. Aim: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice about antibiotic use and its resistance among health science students and the general public in Tumkur, Karnataka. Materials and Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at selected medical, nursing, and pharmacy colleges as well as among the general public for six months. Data were collected, analyzed, and interpreted using descriptive statistics. Results: Out of the 190 study population, 150 (78.94%) were health science students and 40 (21.05%) were the general public. Females comprised 127 (66.84%) and more than half of the participants 107 (56.31%) were aged between 18-20 years. When comparing the mean correct response of knowledge, attitude, and practice on antibiotic use by the health science students and the general public, medical students have given a more mean correct response on both knowledge (71.73%) and attitude (83.47%), whereas pharmacy students gained more mean correct response (71.72%) on practice towards antibiotic use. Conclusion: The findings of the present study exhibit that health science student is better in terms of knowledge, attitude, and practice towards antibiotic use and its resistance than the general public. However, educational interventions are required for health science students to improve their understanding and perceptions of antibiotic use and resistance. Further, public campaigns and workshops should be arranged to raise awareness among the general population.

Keywords: Antibiotic resistance, Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Health science students, General public.