Evaluation of Knowledge and Risk Perception about Antibiotic Resistance in Biology and Mathematics Young Students in Nîmes University in France

Valentin Duvauchelle, Elsa Causse, Julien Michon, Patrick Rateau, Karine Weiss, Patrick Meffre and Zohra Benfodda
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Valentin Duvauchelle: UPR CHROME, Université de Nîmes, CEDEX 1, F-30021 Nîmes, France
Elsa Causse: UPR CHROME, Université de Nîmes, CEDEX 1, F-30021 Nîmes, France
Julien Michon: UPR CHROME, Université de Nîmes, CEDEX 1, F-30021 Nîmes, France
Patrick Rateau: Département de Psychologie, Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3, EPSYLON EA 4556, F-34000 Montpellier, France
Karine Weiss: UPR CHROME, Université de Nîmes, CEDEX 1, F-30021 Nîmes, France
Patrick Meffre: UPR CHROME, Université de Nîmes, CEDEX 1, F-30021 Nîmes, France
Zohra Benfodda: UPR CHROME, Université de Nîmes, CEDEX 1, F-30021 Nîmes, France

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 18, 1-12

Abstract: In response to the antimicrobial resistance issue, the World Health Organization developed and conducted a survey in 2015 dealing with habits, antibiotic use, awareness of appropriate use and sensitization to the issue of antibacterial resistance. In France, we conducted a similar survey to investigate the use of antibiotics and students’ perceptions of the antibiotic resistance risk. Our results indicated that antibiotics are moderately taken (42% in the last six months), but mistakes remain in appropriate practices and knowledge. Many people still believe that the body develops resistance to antibiotics and 24% responded that antibiotics can be stopped before the end of the treatment if they feel better. Furthermore, only 14% said antibiotics could be used to treat gonorrhea while 57% indicated that influenza could be treated with antibiotics. We looked at risk perception as well, and noticed that students in biology were more aware of risk (mean score = 48.87) and health consequences (mean score = 40.33) than mathematics students (mean score = 44.11 and 37.44). They were more aware of the threat, had a better understanding of antibiotic resistance and their denial of this risk was less significant (mean score = 27.04 against 23.81). However, the importance of providing a minimum level of knowledge to young students has been emphasized, regardless of the field of expertise.

Keywords: antibiotic; resistance; rational use; knowledge surveys; students; risk perception (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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