https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4198-6246
![Sample our Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing & Allied Health journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5944/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Medicine-Dentistry-Nursing-Allied-Health.jpg"})
Abstract
Objective
To assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among college students.
Participants
Undergraduate students at a large public university in the United States.
Methods
Anonymous online questionnaire completed in early 2020.
Results
While 82% of participants knew that resistant pathogens can spread between people, 38% believed that antibiotics weaken the immune system and 32% believed that AMR is only a problem for people who take antibiotics often. Many undergraduates have or would stop taking antibiotics before completing a full course because of side effects (44%) or feeling better (38%), and some would take (23%) or share (13%) antibiotics that had not been prescribed to the recipient. Only 57% are worried about AMR, compared to 88% who are worried about global climate change.
Conclusions
Health education about antimicrobial stewardship and other global health issues must improve knowledge, perceptions, health behaviors, self-efficacy, and social norms.
Conflict of interest disclosure
The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of the United States of America and received approval from the Institutional Review Board of George Mason University.