Awareness regarding antimicrobial resistance and confidence to prescribe antibiotics in dentistry: a cross-continental student survey

Abstract

Background The antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis is a major global threat and one of its biggest drivers is the overuse of antibiotics in humans. Dentists are responsible for 5–10% antibiotic prescriptions worldwide and recent data suggest that knowledge and prescribing practices need improvement. Methods A cross-sectional web-survey was sent to dental students from six universities in Norway, Canada, and Brazil. Topics addressed covered awareness, confidence to prescribe antibiotics, and education needs. Data were presented descriptively and statistical testing was employed to compare group means when applicable. Results In total, 562 responses were collected across the three countries with a response rate of 28.6%. ‘Antibiotic resistance’ was among the highest priorities (scale 1–10) with an average of 8.86 (SEM ± 0.05), together with ‘Gender inequality’ (8.68 ± 0.07) and ‘Climate change’ (8.68 ± 0.07). Only 28.8% thought that Dentistry was engaged in national/international campaigns promoting awareness on the topic and 8.9% stated to have heard about the ‘One Health’ concept. Final year dental students showed an average confidence to prescribe antibiotics of 7.59 (± 0.14). Most students demonstrated interest in receiving additional education on all topics listed, with the three most pressing being ‘antibiotic prescription for treatment of infections’ (82.9%), ‘drug interactions’ (80.9%), and ‘spread of antibiotic resistance’ (79.6%). A trend was observed between higher awareness regarding the topic and higher confidence to prescribe. Conclusions There is a need to revisit dental education on antibiotic resistance with a global perspective and to create more stewardship initiatives that promote awareness on the topic.

Repurposing Metformin for periodontal disease management as a form of oral-systemic preventive medicine

“…Therefore, since a significant proportion of the population develops periodontal disease at a younger age (30 years old) in comparison to other age-related systemic non-communicable diseases, management of PD throughout life using glucose metabolism modulation strategies could result in indirect geriatric enhancement of overall health and wellbeing. Furthermore, it can move dentists away from overtly relying on antibiotics, a scenario that has recently been raising concerns about contributing to antimicrobial resistance [ 72 ].…”

Use or abuse of antibiotics as prophylactic therapy in oral surgery: A systematic review

“…Another noteworthy data is that their level of confidence is moderate when students make a diagnosis of infection as well as their association with systemic diseases. [ 4 ] This data is especially important to our study, since the foundation for the management of antibiotics are obtained in university.…”