A survey of awareness related to the use of antibiotics for dental issues among non-medical female university students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Inappropriate use of antibiotics may lead to adverse side effects. This cross-sectional survey aimed to investigate the knowledge and attitude of female non-medical students regarding the medical and dental use of antibiotics. Four hundred validated self-administered questionnaires were distributed in Princess Norah Bint-Abdurrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire included questions about accessibility, attitude toward usage, efficacy, side effects, resistance, and usage for dental issues. Knowledge was estimated for every respondent by counting the correct answers, which were considered as points. The scores were categorized as poor, moderate, and high. Of the respondents, 77.8% answered they get antibiotics according to a doctor's prescription; however, 31% stops taking antibiotics when they feel well. Only 38.8% of respondents knew that antibiotics may cause allergic reactions while 59.8% believed the human body can be resistant to antibiotics. The percentages of answers related to dental issues were: antibiotics relieve dental pain (68.8%), antibiotics can be harmful for children's teeth (27.3%), antibiotics are best avoided in pregnancy (56.7%) and no need for antibiotics after scaling (33.8%), root canal treatment (16%), or simple extraction (40.3%). Of respondents, 68% had poor scores about antibiotics efficacy, side effects, and resistance while 86.8% had poor scores related to dental problems. This study noticed a bad attitude related to antibiotics usage, with many misconceptions and poor knowledge. Moreover, the necessity of antibiotics for treatment of dental disease or after dental procedures was totally unclear for the respondents. Community campaigns are recommended every university semester to educate students about the indications, efficacy, and side effects of antibiotics.

Dental Students’ Knowledge and Attitudes towards Antibiotic Prescribing Guidelines in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

“…These studies indicated that there was frequent prescription of antibiotics in situations where they are not necessary or indicated [ 12 , 13 ]. Moreover, a survey that was distributed amongst Riyadh’s non-medical female university students investigating their knowledge and attitudes regarding the medical and dental use of antibiotics revealed that there are misconceptions and a negative attitude towards antibiotics usage in treating dentistry-related problems [ 14 ].…”

Patterns of Self-Medication Behavior for Oral Health Problems Among Adults Living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

“…In Saudi Arabia, 80% of the population were found to be self-medicating for dental pain of which antibiotics were the main medications used [ 9 ]. In contrast, a survey investigated a sample of Saudi papulation revealed a more positive attitude in regard to antibiotics of which 77.8% of the sample used them according to the doctor’s prescription only [ 17 ]. Several substances were used without professional consultation.…”

“…However, findings of the previous studies cannot be generalized as the samples were either dental patients or university students, which do not accurately represent the Saudi population. In addition, most of the reported studies were limited to investigate the practice of self-medication using antibiotics only [ 9 , 17 ]. The current study aims to assess the patterns of self-medication for the management of oral health problems among adults living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.…”

<p>Inappropriate Dental Antibiotic Prescriptions: Potential Driver of the Antimicrobial Resistance in Albaha Region, Saudi Arabia</p>

“…However, some self-reported data and questionnairebased studies have evaluated awareness, knowledge, habits, and attitudes in relation to prescribing dental antibiotics among Saudi dentists or dental students. [10][11][12][13][14] The current study, first of its kind, evaluated and analyzed a total of 43,255 dental visits over a two-year period. It identified factors such as the prescription of antibiotics in dental consultations, including patients' age and gender, dentists' gender, dentists' specialty, and dentists' diagnoses.…”

“…Several studies have evaluated awareness, knowledge, habits, and attitudes in relation to prescribing dental antibiotics among Saudi dental practitioners or dental students. [10][11][12][13][14] These studies concluded that poor practice of prescribing dental antibiotics was prevalent among Saudi dentists and dental students. 11,14 The studies also highlighted that Saudi dentists lacked knowledge and misused antibiotic prescription in endodontic therapy, 12 emphasizing the improvement of knowledge among Saudi dentists regarding odontogenic infection management.…”