Sydney Pharmacy School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
PLoS One. 2019 Mar 13;14(3):e0213520. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213520. eCollection 2019.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health challenge. Pharmacists play a key role in the health care setting to support the quality use of medicines. The education and training of pharmacy students have the potential to impact on patterns of antibiotic use in community and hospital settings. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare antibiotic use and knowledge of antibiotics and AMR among undergraduate pharmacy students in Australian and Sri Lankan universities.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Australian and Sri Lankan universities that offer a pharmacy degree. A paper-based survey was utilised in Sri Lanka and an identical survey distributed online among pharmacy students in Australia. Descriptive and comparative data analyses were performed.
476 pharmacy students from 14 universities in Australia and 466 students from 6 universities in SL completed the survey. Participants commonly reported previous antibiotic use [Australia (88%) and Sri Lanka (86%)]. The majority of students [Australia (89%) and Sri Lanka (77%)] reported they obtained antibiotics with a prescription. Australian pharmacy students correctly reported regarding optimal antibiotic use for certain disease conditions when compared to Sri Lankan students (P<0.05). A greater antibiotic knowledge level regarding AMR was found among Australian students compared to Sri Lankan students (p<0.05).
This study provides an understanding about antibiotic consumption and knowledge on AMR among pharmacy students in a developed country, Australia and a developing country, Sri Lanka. These findings identify possible misconceptions about antibiotics and a lower level of knowledge of AMR amongst Sri Lankan undergraduate pharmacy students. Future research should focus on implementation of a strategic education plan for undergraduate pharmacy students in Sri Lankan universities. The curricula of pharmacy courses in Australian universities may inform such a plan.
抗菌药物耐药性（AMR）是一个全球性的主要健康挑战。药剂师在医疗保健环境中发挥着关键作用，以支持合理用药。药学学生的教育和培训有可能影响社区和医院环境中抗生素的使用模式。本研究旨在调查和比较澳大利亚和斯里兰卡大学药学专业本科生的抗生素使用情况和抗生素及 AMR 知识。
在提供药学学位的澳大利亚和斯里兰卡大学进行了一项横断面调查。在斯里兰卡采用纸质问卷调查，在澳大利亚通过在线方式向药学学生分发了相同的调查。进行了描述性和比较数据分析。
来自澳大利亚 14 所大学和斯里兰卡 6 所大学的 476 名药学学生完成了调查。参与者普遍报告了以前使用过抗生素[澳大利亚（88%）和斯里兰卡（86%）]。大多数学生[澳大利亚（89%）和斯里兰卡（77%）]报告说他们凭处方获得了抗生素。与斯里兰卡学生相比，澳大利亚药学学生在某些疾病情况下正确报告了最佳抗生素使用情况（P<0.05）。与斯里兰卡学生相比，澳大利亚学生对抗生素耐药性的了解程度更高（p<0.05）。
本研究了解了发达国家澳大利亚和发展中国家斯里兰卡的药学学生对抗生素的使用情况和对抗生素耐药性的认识。这些发现表明，斯里兰卡本科药学学生对抗生素可能存在误解，对抗生素耐药性的了解程度较低。未来的研究应侧重于为斯里兰卡大学的药学专业本科生实施战略教育计划。澳大利亚大学药学课程的课程设置可能为该计划提供信息。
