Knowledge and attitude toward antibiotic use and self-medication with antibiotics among medical students

To evaluate knowledge and attitude toward antibiotic use and self-medication with antibiotics.

Cross-sectional study.

A Thai public university.

Medical students.

An anonymous online survey was conducted among pre-clinical- and clinical-year medical students between January 2023 to February 2024.

Of the 538 students included, 391 (65%) and 147 (35%) were in pre-clinical and clinical years, respectively, and 59% were female. Most of the students (>90%) were knowledgeable about the names of antibiotics and importance of adhering to prescribed antibiotic regimen. Less than 50% were knowledgeable about antibiotic resistance in gonorrhea and resistance transmission among humans or animals to humans. Clinical-year students had significantly higher knowledge score about antibiotic use than pre-clinical-year students (10 vs. 8 of 15; P < .001). Most students agreed that antibiotic resistance is mostly caused by human actions and antibiotic use and resistance should be taught early in a high school. Pre-clinical-year students were more-likely than clinical-year students to agree that alternative treatments are always available when antibiotics are ineffective. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, factors associated with higher antibiotic knowledge score were higher academic years (P < .001). While being pre-clinical-year students was independently associated with using antibiotics without appropriate indications (any diarrheal illnesses, upper respiratory tract infections and abrasions) and stopping antibiotic prematurely (P < .001).

Interventions to improve knowledge and practices regarding antibiotic use should be tailored to students' academic years and be guided by the study's findings.