Antimicrobial knowledge and confidence amongst final year medical students in Australia

Introduction

Inappropriate use of antimicrobials is one of the major modifiable contributors to antimicro-bial resistance. There is currently no validated survey tool available to assess knowledge and confidence of medical students in infectious diseases (ID) compared to other diseases states, and little is known about this topic.

Materials and methods

A cross-sectional survey of final year medical students attending universities around Austra-lia was conducted between August and September, 2015. A survey unique from other published studies was developed to survey satisfaction in education, confidence and knowl-edge in ID, and how this compared to these factors in cardiovascular diseases.

Results

Reliability and validity was demonstrated in the survey tool used. Students were more likely to rate university education as sufficient for cardiovascular diseases (91.3%) compared to ID (72.5%), and were more confident in their knowledge of cardiovascular diseases com-pared to ID (74.38% vs. 53.76%). Students tended to answer more cardiovascular disease related clinical questions correctly (mean score 78%), compared to questions on antimicro-bial use (mean score 45%).

Conclusions

Poor knowledge and confidence amongst final year medical students in Australia were observed in ID. Antimicrobial stewardship agenda should include the provision of additional training in antimicrobial prescribing to the future medical workforce.