Assessing Knowledge and Perception Regarding Antimicrobial Stewardship and Antimicrobial Resistance in University Students of Pakistan: Findings and Implications
Iltaf Hussain,
Nisa Yousaf,
Sana Haider,
Pervisha Jalil,
Muhammad Usman Saleem,
Imran Imran,
Abdul Majeed,
Anees ur Rehman,
Muhammad Uzair,
Muhammad Fawad Rasool,
Faleh Alqahtani,
Hussain Alqhtani
Affiliations
Iltaf Hussain
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
Nisa Yousaf
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
Sana Haider
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
Pervisha Jalil
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
Muhammad Usman Saleem
Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
Imran Imran
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
Abdul Majeed
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
Anees ur Rehman
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
Muhammad Uzair
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
Muhammad Fawad Rasool
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
Faleh Alqahtani
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Hussain Alqhtani
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Najran University, Najran 61441, Saudi Arabia
The irrational use of antimicrobials has enormously contributed to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) globally and especially in the developing world. To assess the knowledge and perception regarding AMR and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), a descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in university students enrolled in pharmacy, veterinary, and biology programs by using an online self-administered questionnaire. The Chi-square and Fisher exact tests (where applicable) were performed to assess the association of the demographics with the students’ knowledge and perception regarding AMR and AMS. A total of 496 students completed the questionnaire, among which, 85.7% of the participants were familiar with the term AMR and 79.4% of the participants correctly identified a poorly designed dosing regimen as a contributing factor towards AMR. The majority of participants (57.9%) were familiar with the term AMS and 86.5% were aware of the aim of AMS. The participants showed good knowledge regarding AMR and AMS, but to further improve student knowledge and perception of AMS and AMR, it is suggested that dedicated modules on antibiotic use and AMS should be incorporated into the curricula of these undergraduate and postgraduate programs.