Abstract
Objectives: The use of antibiotics prophylactically and therapeutically in dentistry has become common practice. An inappropriate prescription may lead to adverse side effects and bacterial resistance. During clinical training, dental students in Saudi Arabia are authorized to prescribe antibiotics. Aim: To evaluate dental students' knowledge and attitudes regarding antibiotic prescription in Abha, Saudi Arabia. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, participants (n = 175) were selected based on simple random sampling method. Data were collected using a questionnaire regarding knowledge of antibiotics, attitudes and behavior towards antibiotic prescribing guidelines and clinical cases to assess knowledge of antimicrobial prescribing in children. Descriptive statistics were generated for all questions. The results were tabulated and expressed as both number and percentage. Results: Average percentage of fully correct answers (Yes) was higher than 70% of the all the statement proposed for knowledge about antibiotic. Attitude and behavior of statement about antibiotic are relatively less compared to knowledge questions, average correct answers (Yes) were ranges 31% to 59%. The compliance rate with prescribing guidelines in each of the clinical cases ranged from 28% to 53.2%. Conclusions: This study concludes that dental students have positive knowledge regarding antibiotics, but had low awareness and compliance with antibiotic prescribing guidelines to children. There is a clear need for the development of prescribing guidelines and educational initiatives to encourage the rational and appropriate use of the antibiotics in children by the dentist.