Assessment of Healthcare Professionals' and Students' Perspectives and Intentions for Raising Public Awareness and Comprehension of Antimicrobial Resistance.

Abstract

Background: Limited public knowledge of antimicrobial agents contributes to their misuse and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Objective: This study aimed to assess the intentions of healthcare students and professionals in promoting public awareness and understanding of AMR. Methods: A 31-item survey based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and the health belief model was developed, incorporating intention, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and perceived benefits. The survey aligned with global and national AMR action plans and was distributed among healthcare professionals and students in Al-Jouf, Saudi Arabia, via Google Forms. Responses were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, correlations between constructs, and ordinal logistic regression to assess significant associations between intention and other variables. Results: A total of 572 participants completed the survey, comprising 59.4% males and 40.6% females. Over one-third were younger individuals, and about one-third were undergraduate students or had less than 5 years of experience. Most respondents (74%) expressed an intention to educate the public on AMR, with a median intention score of 24 (out of 30). Intention showed strong positive correlations with past behavior (r = 0.703), subjective norms (r = 0.695), perceived behavioral control (r = 0.690), and perceived benefits (r = 0.683), while attitudes had a weak correlation (r = 0.122). Attitudes also had low correlations with other constructs (r = 0.137-0.278). Among predictors, subjective norms significantly influenced intention (p < 0.001), while other factors showed no significant predictive relationship. Conclusion: Healthcare students and professionals exhibited a strong inclination toward educating the public on responsible antimicrobial use and AMR. The findings underscore the complex interplay of factors influencing this intention, with subjective norms playing a key role, highlighting the impact of social pressure. Identifying these contributing factors can inform targeted strategies for healthcare professionals and students, enabling broader educational outreach and strengthening AMR control efforts.