title: Antibiotic use: a cross-sectional survey assessing the knowledge, attitudes and practices amongst students of a school of medicine in Italy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since antibiotic resistance has become a worldwide public health concern and is in part related to physicians' lack of knowledge, it is essential to focus our attention on healthcare profession students. The present study aims at evaluating the knowledge and attitudes of the School of Medicine's students towards antibiotic usage and antibiotic resistance.
  
  
  METHODS
  In December 2013, a cross sectional study was conducted amongst medical, dental, nursing and other health care profession students of the School of Medicine at the University of Torino. Students of all the academic years took part in this study. Questionnaires were submitted during regular lectures (only students who attended courses on one specific day were surveyed) and the data collected was analyzed using StataMP11 statistical software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 1,050 students were interviewed. The response rate was 100%. Around 20% of the sample stated that antibiotics are appropriate for viral infections and 15% of the students that they stop taking those drugs when symptoms decrease. Results of the multivariate analyses showed that females were more likely than males to take antibiotics only when prescribed (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.04-1.98). Interestingly, students with a relative working in a health-related field, as well as those who took at least one course of antibiotics in the last year, had a lower probability of taking those drugs only under prescription (OR = 0.69 95% CI: 0.49-0.97 and OR = 0.38 95% CI: 0.27-0.53, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present paper shows how healthcare profession students do not practice what they know. Since those students will be a behavioral model for citizens and patients, it is important to generate more awareness around this issue throughout their studies. It would be advisable to introduce a specific course and training on antibiotics in the core curriculum of the School of Medicine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scaioli
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Gualano
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gili
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Masucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bert
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Siliquini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D000067490:Prescription Drug Overuse; D013337:Students, Medical; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
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