MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS ON ANTIBIOTIC USE AMONG MEDICAL AND NON-MEDICAL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY IN SOUTH INDIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2026v19i4.58202Keywords:
Antibiotics, Antimicrobial resistance, Myths, Self-medication, Stewardship,, University studentsAbstract
Objectives: To compare myths, attitudes, and selected practices related to antibiotic use among medical and non-medical undergraduate students.
Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among 300 students (medical: n=155; non-medical: n=145) in South India. Items assessed misconceptions (antibiotics for viral infections), recent antibiotic use, prescription-seeking, course completion, storage of leftovers, and attitudes on rational use using Likert responses. Data were summarized as frequencies/percentages and compared using Chi-square tests (p<0.05).
Results: The misconception that antibiotics treat viral infections was higher among non-medical students (117/145, 80.7%) than medical students (52/155, 33.5%) (p<0.001). Antibiotic use in the past 6 months was frequent (medical: 110/155, 71.0%; non-medical: 91/145, 62.8%). The course completion was better in medical students (112/155, 72.3% vs. 82/145, 56.6%; p=0.004), as was reporting improvement after use (127/155, 82.0% vs. 104/145, 71.7%; p=0.041). Leftover antibiotics were stored for future use by 97/155 (62.6%) medical and 64/145 (44.1%) non-medical students. Agreement that antibiotics can treat fever was lower among medical students (32/155, 20.6%) than non-medical students (67/145, 46.3%) (p<0.001). Disagreement with stopping antibiotics when symptoms improve was higher in medical students (79.4% vs. 32.4%; p<0.001). Most of the respondents supported patient education to reduce resistance (medical: 95.4% agreement; non-medical: 91.0%) and endorsed consulting a physician before starting antibiotics (91.6% vs. 78.0%).
Conclusion: Among undergraduate students in this university-based survey, misconceptions and unsafe self-reported antibiotic-related practices remained common, particularly in the non-medical group. Targeted stewardship education should be strengthened across disciplines, with foundational messages for non-medical students and stronger emphasis among medical students on translating knowledge into safe, real-world practice, especially avoiding storage and reuse of leftover antibiotics.
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