Knowledge of Antibiotic Use in College Students: A Quality Improvement Project

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate college students' knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about antibiotic use for simple viral infections, as well as determine if knowledge could be improved through an educational intervention and examine impacts on overall patient satisfaction.
Background: Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem. College-aged students are at an increased risk for simple respiratory infections due to their close living conditions and poor knowledge of appropriate antibiotic use (Smith, Rigassio-Radler, Denmark, Haley, & Touger-Decker, 2012; Turner & Keller, 2015).
Methods: Students (N = 44) age 19-25 seen at the college health center of a small, private Nebraska university presenting with symptoms of an upper respiratory infection (URI) were given a survey prior to seeing the healthcare provider. During the visit, providers reviewed an educational handout discussing appropriate antibiotic use for URIs and then gave the student a post-survey to complete.
Results: Students' Basic Knowledge of antibiotics improved, p = .1, Cohen's d = 0.41 as a result of the educational intervention, while changes in knowledge about Efficacy and Provider trust was mixed. Knowledge of correct use/misuse was high at pre, M = 1.95 and post M = 1.93.
Conclusions: College-aged students benefit from additional education about antibiotics. Based on this project's findings, educational handouts have the potential to improve knowledge regarding antibiotics.