Original Research Article
Year: 2019 | Month: April-June | Volume: 4 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 136-142
Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Antibiotic Usage Amongst Undergraduate, Intern and Postgraduate Dental Students - A Questionnaire Based Study
Mosmi Lomi1, V.K. Jimsha2, S.V. Srinivasan3, M. Jonathan Daniel4
Postgraduate Resident1; Assistant Professor2; Professor3; Professor and Head4
Associate Dean (Academics), Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, MGPGI, Pondicherry, Puducherry, Union Territory.
Corresponding Author: Mosmi Lomi
ABSTRACT
Background: Antibiotics serve as a vital and useful armamentarium to combat against various harmful pathogens. Unfortunately, excessive and imprudent uses of these drugs have led to antibiotic resistance which is now a rapidly growing serious threat to human health. The aim and objective of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of antibiotic use and its resistance amongst Undergraduate, Intern and Postgraduate dental students.
Materials and methods: The study included 140 dental students (Undergraduates, Interns and Postgraduates) from Mahatma Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Dental Sciences, Pondicherry, India. Modified questionnaire was distributed amongst the participants so as to assess their knowledge, attitude and practice regarding antibiotic use and its resistance. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test and ANOVA test.
Results: The mean ages of the Undergraduate, Intern and Postgraduate students were 20.28, 22.97 and 26.05 years respectively. Out of total 70 Undergraduate students, 24.29% were males and 75.71% were females. Out of total 35 Interns, 40% were males and 60% were females, and out of 35 Postgraduate students, 37.14% were males and 62.86% were females. Knowledge, attitude and practice mean score were higher in Postgraduate students than Interns and Undergraduate students which was statistically significant.
Conclusion: Our results indicated the need to educate dental students further regarding antibiotic use and the risk related to antibiotic misuse and resistance.
Keywords: Antibiotic, resistance, knowledge, attitude, practice