Confidence in Antibiotic Prescribing Intentions among MBBS Students in a Tertiary Medical College in Etawah District: A Cross-Sectional Study

Authors

  • Anurag Verma Junior Resident, Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences, Saifai, Uttar Pradesh, India https://orcid-org/0009-0001-2216-4941
  • Jyoti Kumari Junior Resident, Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences, Saifai, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Shivali Singh Junior Resident, Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences, Saifai, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Ekata Varma Research Scholar, National Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Nikhil Bharti Student, Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences, Saifai, Uttar Pradesh, India

Keywords:

antimicrobial resistance, antibiotic prescribing, medical education, confidence

Abstract

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical global health challenge. Medical students, as future prescribers, play a pivotal role in antibiotic stewardship. This study assesses confidence in antibiotic prescribing among MBBS students in a tertiary medical college in Etawah, Uttar Pradesh.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 342 second-year to internship MBBS students using a self administered questionnaire covering demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and prescribing confidence. Logistic regression identified predictors of confidence.
Results: Females comprised 58% of participants. Confidence in antibiotic prescribing increased across academic years, from 58% in second-year students to 75% among interns. Important factors that predicted confidence included being female, having good clinical knowledge, having more than three years of clinical training, and thinking that antimicrobial education is “useful.”Attitude scores were negatively associated with confidence (OR=0.94, p=0.035).
Conclusion: Confidence in antibiotic prescribing improves with academic progression and clinical exposure. Structured AMR education, early clinical training, and targeted interventions addressing gender-specific variations can enhance confidence levels. These findings highlight the need for curriculum enhancements to prepare future doctors for effective antibiotic stewardship.

How to cite this article:
Verma A, Kumari J, Singh S, Varma E, Bharti N.
Confidence in Antibiotic Prescribing Intentions
among MBBS Students in a Tertiary Medical
College in Etawah District: A Cross-Sectional
Study. J. HealthCare Edu. & Med. Inform.
2024;11(3&4):1-5.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/2455.9199.202408

References

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Singh S, Verma A, Kumari J, Singh S, Varma E, Bharti N. Antibiotic prescribing patterns among medical students in India: a multicentre study. J Glob Antimicrob Resist. 2023;22:45–52

Brinkman DJ, Tichelaar J, Schutte T, Benemei S, Böttiger Y, Chamontin B, et al. Prescribing competence in transition: a systematic review. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2022;111(4):849–63.

Laxminarayan R, Reddy DH, Gandra S, Bhattacharya S, Singh P, et al. Antibiotic consumption patterns in

India: challenges and opportunities. Indian J Med Res. 2023;157:210–8.

Kumar R, Sharma A, Verma N, Gupta P, Singh R, et al. Healthcare delivery challenges in Uttar Pradesh: a systematic analysis. Indian J Public Health. 2023;67:156–63.

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Published

2024-01-30

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 3&4 (2024): International Journal of Healthcare Education & Medical Informatics

Section

Research Article

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Copyright (c) 2025 Anurag Verma, Jyoti Kumari, Shivali Singh, Ekata Varma, Nikhil Bharti

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.