While these trends align with regional studies, they contrast with European data 15,16,40,50,51, likely reflecting cultural or institutional differences in health education. Factors such as cultural health beliefs, access to healthcare information, and variations in national health policies could all contribute to differences in awareness. In our Riyadh-based sample, participants were predominantly Saudi nationals, reflecting the local university demographics. Age is one factor linked to less responsible antibiotic behaviors, suggesting certain groups are more prone to misuse. Inappropriate antibiotic use, which is concerning, fuels antibiotic resistance. Since 2018, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health has enforced regulations under the Health Practice Law, prohibiting pharmacists from dispensing antibiotics without a valid prescription from a licensed physician.
Data safety
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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- Collaborations with medical or public health faculties could foster interdisciplinary solutions, empowering engineers to design innovations (e.g., wastewater treatment systems) that mitigate AMR risks.
- Misconceptions persisted, with 13.3% believing antibiotics treat viral infections and 44.2% considering all antibiotics safe.
- However, 40.9% of students demonstrated insufficient knowledge, and factors such as age, gender, and field of study significantly impacted KAP outcomes.
- Level of knowledge, attitude, and practice toward AR among the university students.
- Antibiotic resistance has emerged as a critical global health challenge, driven by the widespread misuse and overuse of antibiotics, leading to the emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), which significantly complicate treatment options 1,2.
- 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.
Initiating a health awareness campaign can assist legislators in making informed decisions to increase awareness. 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. This study aims to assess the level of awareness about AR. Sources of information about the participants’ antibiotic use. The primary source of information about antibiotic use among participants was their doctor, with 76.8% (516 participants) relying on this source (Figure 1).
3. Sample Size
- The sample was then proportionally allocated to each university.
- (Abdulmohsen Alhussain)) contributed to gathering and organizing the data.
- 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.
- These deficiencies in health literacy and antibiotic education underscore the urgent need for targeted educational interventions .
- Initiating a health awareness campaign can assist legislators in making informed decisions to increase awareness.
Some questions reflected tendencies toward misuse, such as believing antibiotics should be accessible without a prescription, sharing them with family members without medical consultation, or using them to prevent the worsening of illness. All non-medical students in any public or private university in Riyadh, regardless of their nationalities, genders, or fields of study, were included, https://www.betsomnia-nl.nl/ whereas visiting students or medical students were excluded from the study. A cross-sectional design was used to measure the level of awareness of antibiotic misuse that leads to AR among students in public and private universities of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. However, due to limited antibiotic education, non-medical students frequently misuse antibiotics—taking them without prescriptions, using leftover medication, sharing antibiotics, or discontinuing treatment early. For example, while many refrain from sharing leftover antibiotics—considered a positive behavior—negative attitudes toward antibiotic use persist.
3.2. Data Collection Instrument
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). Verbal informed consent was obtained from all participants, detailing the study’s purpose, procedures, risks, and benefits. These deficiencies in health literacy and antibiotic education underscore the urgent need for targeted educational interventions .
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Proposed strategies include integrating AR education into university curricula, launching campus-wide campaigns (e.g., digital outreach, mandatory health literacy modules), and partnering with pharmacies to reinforce responsible practices. This suggests that the majority of participants had a moderate level of practice towards antibiotic use, similar to the reported findings from university student in Nepal and in line with the almost around the global average of 56%, according to the 2020 WHO survey . Overall, the study highlights the need for interventions to improve students’ understanding of AR and promote appropriate practices. However, nationality and university affiliation showed no significant associations across knowledge, attitude, or practice, with all p-values greater than 0.05. Specifically, 43% (289 out of 672) of the participants demonstrated an adequate understanding of antibiotic resistance, while the remaining 57% (383 out of 672) exhibited an inadequate knowledge of this topic. These behaviors increase the prevalence of resistant infections, leading to harder-to-treat diseases, higher healthcare costs, and increased outbreak risks on university campuses and within the broader community, posing a significant public health threat .
While our study primarily focused on university students within Riyadh, we acknowledge that nationality could indeed play a role. Students from literary fields were the most likely to have insufficient knowledge, attitudes, and practices, while those in science and engineering showed better outcomes. While overall awareness and behavior appear positive, nearly four in ten students lack proper understanding and engagement in AR practices. The study converted all antibiotic-related knowledge, attitude, and practice scores into percentages to standardize scoring and classify proficiency levels.
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.
This disparity aligns with the observation that science and engineering students, benefiting from biology/microbiology-rich curricula and practical lab work, demonstrate enhanced antibiotic understanding and practices, thus contributing to improved public health literacy. This study used Pearson’s Chi-Square test to explore the relationship between antibiotic knowledge, attitudes, and practices and demographic factors, after confirming the test’s assumptions, notably that expected cell frequencies were above five. Logistic regression model was computed to identify predictors of inadequate knowledge, negative attitude, and poor practices towards antibiotics use. Data on knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding antibiotic use were collected via a structured, pretested questionnaire.
A national study on Gram-positive bacteria in Saudi Arabia revealed alarming resistance trends. The NAP is structured around five sub-committees dedicated to raising awareness, monitoring resistance patterns, strengthening infection control, optimizing antibiotic use, and advancing research. This comprehensive strategy aligns with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Action Plan and focuses on multi-sectoral collaboration, evidence-based interventions, and enhancing awareness of AMR among both the public and healthcare professionals 6,7. The primary source of information on antibiotics was healthcare professionals, particularly doctors.
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.