Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Antibiotic Use and Antibiotic Resistance During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Nursing School Students – A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Antibiotic resistance is a global health concern due to the overuse of antibiotics. The impact of the COVID-19 on the antibiotics used to treat bacterial co-infection during hospitalisation led to the emergence of resistant bacteria. In the light of patient care, nursing students should have good knowledge, attitude and practice in educating the patient on the menace of antibiotic resistance. Objectives: This study aims to assess the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice of antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance during the COVID-19 pandemic among the International Islamic University Malaysia nursing students and determine the relationship between the demographic characteristics and level of knowledge, attitude, and practice. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in which 206 nursing students were involved in this study. Convenience sampling was applied, and the study was conducted through an online questionnaire. The data were analysed by using the Chi-square test. Results: Nursing students of the International Islamic University Malaysia have good knowledge, attitude and practice regarding antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance. There was a significant association between the Infection Prevention and Control program and the nursing students' knowledge and practice, with a p-value ? of 0.05. Meanwhile, for the other demographic variables (such as gender, pre-university nursing course and clinical posting experience), there is no significant association (p ? 0.05) with knowledge, attitude and practice among the nursing students. Conclusions: The Infection Prevention and Control program shows a significant association with the knowledge and practice, which implies that nursing students who have participated in this program possessed a better understanding and practice of antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance.