Students may lack awareness of pharmacists’ expertise, highlighting an opportunity to diversify accessible, trusted healthcare sources for public education. However, expanding awareness to include pharmacists—equally qualified to educate on antibiotic use and resistance—is critical. Such contradiction is probably due to the inclusion in their sample with all age groups rather than a young population of university students . As depicted in Table 1, among the 672 participants involved in this study, the mean age of the students was 20.2 years ±standard deviation (SD) 1.8.
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The present study showed that university non-medical students’ practice toward antibiotic use was approximately 60.6%. This is in contrast to other studies from Jordan, Thailand, Zambia, Brunei, Sudan, and Cyprus, where non-medical students exhibited lower levels of knowledge regarding antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance 20,21,23,24,25,26,28,29. Age significantly impacted antibiotic-related attitudes and practices among students. Level of knowledge, attitude, and practice toward AR among the university students. This scoring framework ensured consistency in evaluating participants’ antibiotic-related attitudes and practices, aligning with established methodologies to enhance reliability and comparability of results.
However, 40.9% of students demonstrated insufficient knowledge, and factors such as age, gender, and field of study significantly impacted KAP outcomes. Addressing these issues should be prioritized as an antimicrobial stewardship strategy as these students are crucial, tentative frontliners in healthcare administration in the country. Misconceptions persisted, with 13.3% believing antibiotics treat viral infections and 44.2% considering all antibiotics safe. Using simple random sampling, 233 students were enrolled across five health programs. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students of the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, from May–August 2024. University students in the Allied Health Sciences are uniquely positioned to influence patterns of antibiotic use, both as practitioners and educators.
The findings in Table 2 indicate that the majority of university students demonstrated sufficient knowledge (59.1%), positive attitude (60.0%), and appropriate practice (60.6%) regarding antibiotic resistance. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) toward AR among non-medical university students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and identify factors that influence antibiotic use. Association between sociodemographic characteristics and sufficient knowledge, attitude, and practice of antibiotics among university students.
- Al-Shibani et al. (2017) found that self-medication with antibiotics, even for minor illnesses like sore throats, is common in Riyadh .
- Al Nasser et al. (2021) reported that while people may possess some knowledge about antibiotics, they often exhibit negative attitudes toward their use .
- Pharmacists were the second-most common source, consulted by 9.4% (63 participants).
- The effective sample size calculated was 334; however, a larger sample size of 501 students was eventually included in the study, yielding approximately 1.5 times the initial sample size projection (1.5 design effect).
- The NAP is structured around five sub-committees dedicated to raising awareness, monitoring resistance patterns, strengthening infection control, optimizing antibiotic use, and advancing research.
Data Availability Statement
The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Targeted education is crucial to improve antibiotic awareness, especially among specific demographics. First, the reliance on self-reported data introduces risks of recall bias (e.g., inaccuracies in recalling past antibiotic use) and social desirability bias (over reporting adherence to guidelines), potentially compromising the validity of responses. These elements collectively strengthen insights into antibiotic awareness in an understudied demographic. Key strengths include a robust, gender-balanced sample of non-medical Riyadh students, enhancing statistical power and representativeness. The results advocate for tailored educational programs to enhance antibiotic awareness, particularly in demographics where age, gender, and academic discipline significantly influence outcomes.
Among Staphylococcus aureus isolates, 32% were methicillin-resistant (MRSA), while Streptococcus pneumoniae https://www.betsomnia-nl.nl/ demonstrated penicillin G resistance (33%) and erythromycin resistance (26%) .
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- In 2018, the Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) implemented a national policy requiring a prescription for all antibiotic sales in pharmacies, aiming to curb the misuse of antimicrobials.
- However, other studies from Italy and Nepal reported a very high level of knowledge to antibiotic use compared to our findings (84.8%, 94%) 30,31.
- Results Out of the 233 participants, 58.8% were female and 95.7% aged 18–24 years.
- While overall awareness and behavior appear positive, nearly four in ten students lack proper understanding and engagement in AR practices.
- Second, the cross-sectional design precludes establishing causal relationships or analyzing temporal trends between awareness and behavioral factors.
- This study adhered to strict ethical guidelines.
A convenience sampling was employed to select participants based on accessibility and willingness to participate on campus, continuing until the required sample size was met. The sample was then proportionally allocated to each university. A multistage sampling method was used, first stratifying Riyadh universities as public or private (three universities for each). This study adhered to strict ethical guidelines. These findings highlight the pressing need for sustained antimicrobial stewardship efforts and strict enforcement of antibiotic regulations to mitigate the growing threat of AMR in the region.
3.4. Data Presentation and Analysis
Additionally, many individuals discontinue antibiotics as soon as they feel better rather than completing the full course, further exacerbating AR risks. Al-Shibani et al. (2017) found that self-medication with antibiotics, even for minor illnesses like sore throats, is common in Riyadh . In 2018, the Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) implemented a national policy requiring a prescription for all antibiotic sales in pharmacies, aiming to curb the misuse of antimicrobials. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses an urgent global health crisis, contributing to approximately 700,000 deaths worldwide annually.
Combining prevention and response interventions is essential for effective control in healthcare settings . Family/siblings or friends provided information for 7.0% (47 participants), while social media was a source for 6.8% (46 participants). Pharmacists were the second-most common source, consulted by 9.4% (63 participants). The mean knowledge score related to AR was 63.97 ≈ 64 (±8 SD, range ≈ 49). Sociodemographic characteristics of the participants.
Data safety
Participants scoring above 60% were deemed to have adequate KAP, whereas those at or below this threshold were categorized as having insufficient understanding or behaviors in antibiotic use. Knowledge-related questions were scored with a binary system, where incorrect or uncertain (“don’t know”) responses received a score of 0, while correct answers were awarded 1 point. Domains with less than 0.07 were reviewed carefully, and targeted questions were modified or deleted accordingly. It was piloted among 5% of the sample (35 students). Data collection was conducted from 4 September to 19 October 2023 by a team of trained students from the College of Medicine at AlMaarefa University, who followed standardized protocols for accuracy and consistency. This in-person approach ensured direct participant engagement, comprehensive responses, and efficient data collection.