title: Understanding of antibiotic use and resistance among final-year pharmacy and medical students: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study is aimed to investigate the understanding of antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance and its correlate factors among final-year medical and pharmacy students at International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study. The study instrument was developed by extensive literature search and was subjected to face validity and content validity to medical and pharmacy academics. A pilot study was conducted to ascertain the reliability coefficient. Data was entered to SPSS version 17 and descriptive and inferential statistics were applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 123 questionnaires were included in the study. Out of 123 respondents, 58.5% (n = 72) were final-year medical students, while 41.5% (n = 51) were final-year pharmacy students. The majority of the respondents showed adequate knowledge regarding the course contents related to antibiotics (n = 116; 94.3%). Almost all the respondents correctly reported the difference between bactericidal and bacteriostatic antibiotics. Only 15.4% (n = 19) and 27.6% (n = 34) of students were able to recognize Streptococcus pyogenes as non-pencillin resistant bacterium and Enterococcus as vancomycin-resistant bacterium, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The students showed good understanding regarding antibiotic resistance. In comparison to medical students, pharmacy students showed better understanding and more adequate knowledge, as the mean value for each domain was slightly higher for pharmacy students. Extensively improving the curriculum and educating healthcare professionals, especially physicians and pharmacists, right from the time of their educational training can inculcate a moral responsibility toward the judicious use of antibiotics, which can serve to eradicate antibiotic resistance.
authors.affiliation: International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Kuantan Campus, Pahang, Malaysia. pharmacist1992@live.com.
authors.forename: Shazia Qasim
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Jamshed
authors.forename: Ramadan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Elkalmi
authors.forename: Kingston
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rajiah
authors.forename: Abdul Kareem
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Al-Shami
authors.forename: Siti Hadijah
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Shamsudin
authors.forename: Mohammad Jamshed Ahmad
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.forename: Mohamad Akram Bin
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Abdul Aziz
authors.forename: Muhammad Badrulsyam Bin
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Hanafi
authors.forename: Najwa Izzati Bt
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Mohammad Shariff
authors.forename: Nasrul Hakim Bin
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Ramlan
authors.forename: Normunirah Bt
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Jamil
authors.forename: Nur Hayatul Akmal Bt
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Mustapha
authors.forename: Nuratiqah Bt
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Hasman Yusri
authors.forename: Nurul Anisah Bt
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Shahri
authors.forename: Radhiyah Bt
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.forename: Siti Maryam Bt
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Zamri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019049:Developed Countries; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D004512:Education, Pharmacy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057970:Inappropriate Prescribing; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013337:Students, Medical; D013339:Students, Pharmacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents