Measurement of medical students' knowledge, attitude and practice towards antibiotic use and resistance: A scoping review

Abstract

Objective: Medical students are demanders and future suppliers of antibiotic use. Understanding their knowledge, attitude and practice is important for appropriately using antibiotics and controlling antibiotic resistance. The objective of this study was to assess the measurement properties of existed instruments and summarize measurement items and results.

Methods: Five English and Chinese databases were searched to comprehensively identify related studies between January 2000 and May 2023. Included instruments were assessed using consensus-based standards for the selection of health measurement instruments checklist. Descriptive tables and narrative texts were applied to summary the data.

Results: Of 3524 studies identified, 25 were finally included, from which 22 measurement instruments were included. Of these, 14 instruments were found with adequate content validity, only one study reported structural validation process and two studies reported reliability test results. Similar items were divided into different dimensions in different studies. Gaps and misconceptions in knowledge and attitude were indicated in antibiotic use principles, including antibiotic use indications and selection.

Conclusions: Limitations existed in the current measurement instrument including lacking validation, inconsistent classification of item and lacking item regarding the perspective of suppliers. Scientific tools for objective and accurate measure are needed.

Keywords: antibiotic; attitude; knowledge; measurement; medical education; practice.