Attitudes, Knowledge, Risk Perception of Antimicrobial Resistance and Antibiotic Use Behaviors: A Cross-Sectional Survey in a Young Adult Population

Abstract

Background: The emergence and spread of bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a major threat to global public health. There is strong evidence that the general public plays a role in the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. Objective: In this study, the impact of attitudes, knowledge, and risk perception of antimicrobial resistance on students’ antibiotic use behaviors was investigated. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a questionnaire with a sample of 279 young adults. Descriptive analysis and hierarchical regression analyses were used to analyze the data. Results: The results indicated that positive attitudes, a minimal level of knowledge about antimicrobial resistance, and awareness of the seriousness of this phenomenon have a positive influence on the appropriate use of antibiotics. Conclusions: Overall, the results of this study highlight the need for awareness campaigns that provide the public with accurate information about the risks associated with antibiotic resistance and appropriate antibiotic use.

Keywords:

• Antimicrobial resistance
• risk perception
• attitudes and knowledge
• antibiotic use behaviors
• young adult

Declaration of interests

The authors report no conflicts of interest relevant to this article.

Notes

1 The version of the questionnaire used was the one distributed during World Antibiotic Awareness Week 2018. http://www.psychomedia.qc.ca/quiz/oms-resistance-antibiotiques (see Appendix B for a translation of the questionnaire).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.