Does the problem begin at the beginning? Medical students’ knowledge and beliefs regarding antibiotics and resistance: a systematic review
Abstract Background Studies have detected that prescribers display gaps in knowledge and inappropriate attitudes regarding antibiotics and resistances, but it is not known whether these are generated during professional practice or derive from the undergraduate stage of their education. Accordingly,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13756-020-00837-z |
| _version_ | 1818210778344325120 |
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| author | Natalia Nogueira-Uzal Maruxa Zapata-Cachafeiro Olalla Vázquez-Cancela Ana López-Durán Maria T. Herdeiro Adolfo Figueiras |
| author_facet | Natalia Nogueira-Uzal Maruxa Zapata-Cachafeiro Olalla Vázquez-Cancela Ana López-Durán Maria T. Herdeiro Adolfo Figueiras |
| author_sort | Natalia Nogueira-Uzal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Studies have detected that prescribers display gaps in knowledge and inappropriate attitudes regarding antibiotics and resistances, but it is not known whether these are generated during professional practice or derive from the undergraduate stage of their education. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to identify medical students’ knowledge, beliefs and attitudes regarding antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance, and whether these change over the course of their time at medical school. Methods We conducted a search of the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases, and included studies that measured knowledge and/or beliefs and/or attitudes regarding antibiotic prescribing and/or resistance, among medical students. Results Of the 509 studies retrieved, 22 met the inclusion criteria. While medical students perceived resistance as posing a major public health problem, both worldwide and in their own countries, students in the last two course years were more aware of overprescription of antibiotics in general, and of broad-spectrum antibiotics, at their teaching hospital. There was a considerable lack of knowledge about the treatment of high-incidence infections, and upper respiratory tract infections in particular (41–69% of participants believed antibiotics to be useful for treating these), without any differences by course year. Students were conscious of their personal shortcomings and thus showed willing to improve their education. Conclusions Future physicians display important gaps in knowledge, particularly in terms of treatment of high-incidence infections. This finding may be of use when it comes to designing more effective training in antibiotic stewardship for undergraduates. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T05:22:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e93eedae951246e49f9e2a0b5251e8f3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2047-2994 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T05:22:01Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control |
| spelling | doaj.art-e93eedae951246e49f9e2a0b5251e8f32022-12-22T00:36:35ZengBMCAntimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control2047-29942020-11-019111610.1186/s13756-020-00837-zDoes the problem begin at the beginning? Medical students’ knowledge and beliefs regarding antibiotics and resistance: a systematic reviewNatalia Nogueira-Uzal0Maruxa Zapata-Cachafeiro1Olalla Vázquez-Cancela2Ana López-Durán3Maria T. Herdeiro4Adolfo Figueiras5Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Santiago de CompostelaDepartment of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Santiago de CompostelaDepartment of Preventive Medicine, Santiago de Compostela University Teaching HospitalDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Santiago de CompostelaDepartment of Medical Sciences and Institute of Biomedicine, University of Aveiro (iBIMED-UA)Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Santiago de CompostelaAbstract Background Studies have detected that prescribers display gaps in knowledge and inappropriate attitudes regarding antibiotics and resistances, but it is not known whether these are generated during professional practice or derive from the undergraduate stage of their education. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to identify medical students’ knowledge, beliefs and attitudes regarding antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance, and whether these change over the course of their time at medical school. Methods We conducted a search of the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases, and included studies that measured knowledge and/or beliefs and/or attitudes regarding antibiotic prescribing and/or resistance, among medical students. Results Of the 509 studies retrieved, 22 met the inclusion criteria. While medical students perceived resistance as posing a major public health problem, both worldwide and in their own countries, students in the last two course years were more aware of overprescription of antibiotics in general, and of broad-spectrum antibiotics, at their teaching hospital. There was a considerable lack of knowledge about the treatment of high-incidence infections, and upper respiratory tract infections in particular (41–69% of participants believed antibiotics to be useful for treating these), without any differences by course year. Students were conscious of their personal shortcomings and thus showed willing to improve their education. Conclusions Future physicians display important gaps in knowledge, particularly in terms of treatment of high-incidence infections. This finding may be of use when it comes to designing more effective training in antibiotic stewardship for undergraduates.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13756-020-00837-zClinical educationAntibioticsAntimicrobial resistanceKnowledgeBeliefs |
| spellingShingle | Natalia Nogueira-Uzal Maruxa Zapata-Cachafeiro Olalla Vázquez-Cancela Ana López-Durán Maria T. Herdeiro Adolfo Figueiras Does the problem begin at the beginning? Medical students’ knowledge and beliefs regarding antibiotics and resistance: a systematic review Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control Clinical education Antibiotics Antimicrobial resistance Knowledge Beliefs |
| title | Does the problem begin at the beginning? Medical students’ knowledge and beliefs regarding antibiotics and resistance: a systematic review |
| title_full | Does the problem begin at the beginning? Medical students’ knowledge and beliefs regarding antibiotics and resistance: a systematic review |
| title_fullStr | Does the problem begin at the beginning? Medical students’ knowledge and beliefs regarding antibiotics and resistance: a systematic review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Does the problem begin at the beginning? Medical students’ knowledge and beliefs regarding antibiotics and resistance: a systematic review |
| title_short | Does the problem begin at the beginning? Medical students’ knowledge and beliefs regarding antibiotics and resistance: a systematic review |
| title_sort | does the problem begin at the beginning medical students knowledge and beliefs regarding antibiotics and resistance a systematic review |
| topic | Clinical education Antibiotics Antimicrobial resistance Knowledge Beliefs |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13756-020-00837-z |
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