Pharmacy-Led Digital Education for Rational Antibiotic Use in Companion Animals: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Inappropriate antibiotic use in companion animals contributes to antimicrobial resistance within the One Health context. Educational interventions targeting non-health companion animal owners, particularly undergraduate students who frequently make day-to-day animal care decisions, have remained limited. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted among undergraduate students who owned companion animals in Maha Sarakham Province, Thailand. Participants were randomly assigned to a research group (n = 31) or a control group (n = 33). The research group received pharmacy-led digital educational materials, including videos and posters, delivered via an online platform over three consecutive days, while the control group received no educational materials. Antibiotic knowledge was assessed using a structured questionnaire before and after the intervention in both groups. Confidence in rational antibiotic use and satisfaction with the educational materials were assessed in the research group. Nonparametric statistical tests were applied for within- and between-group comparisons. Results: Baseline characteristics and antibiotic knowledge scores were comparable between groups. After the intervention, the research group demonstrated significantly higher antibiotic knowledge scores than the control group (9.58 ± 0.76 vs. 7.82 ± 1.31; p < 0.001). The mean improvement in knowledge score was greater in the research group (Δ = 1.55 vs. 0.09; p < 0.001). Confidence in rational antibiotic use increased significantly following the intervention (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Pharmacy-led digital education improved antibiotic knowledge and confidence among undergraduate companion animal owners, supporting the role of pharmacists in antimicrobial stewardship within a One Health framework.