Knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to antibiotic use among junior doctors in a Government Medical College in Kolkata, West Bengal, India: a cross-sectional study
Debalina Das, Priyankar Majumdar, Tatini Gupta, Partha Sarathi ChakrabartyAbstract
Background:
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a major global public health challenge, primarily driven by the inappropriate and excessive use of antibiotics. As frontline prescribers, junior doctors play a critical role in antimicrobial stewardship programs by promoting the rational use of antimicrobials and helping to curb the emergence of resistance.
Objective:
We aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of junior doctors regarding antimicrobial use, AMR, and antimicrobial stewardship.
Materials and Methods:
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among junior doctors at a government medical college from January to March 2026. Data were collected using a validated, self-administered questionnaire comprising 31 items across three domains: KAP. The questionnaire was distributed electronically through Google Forms. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation analysis in Jamovi 2.6.44.0 software. A
Results:
The overall response rate was 56%. The mean age of participants was 28.29 ± 4.75 years, and 66.7% had not received formal training in antimicrobial stewardship. The mean knowledge score was 6.22 ± 2.12, with a median of 7 ± 3. Overall, 55.7% of respondents demonstrated good knowledge (score ≥7/10). Participants exhibited highly favorable attitudes toward AMR and AMS. They reported good antimicrobial stewardship practices, including adherence to antibiotic prescribing guidelines (89.9%), avoidance of antibiotic use for viral infections (88.6%), and regular review of antibiotic therapy based on culture and antimicrobial susceptibility reports (94.9%). A significant positive correlation was observed between attitude and practice scores (
Conclusions:
Junior doctors demonstrated moderate knowledge, favorable attitudes, and appropriate self-reported practices regarding antimicrobial stewardship. Strengthening structured AMS training programs and reinforcing guideline-based antibiotic prescribing may help address existing knowledge gaps and further enhance the rational use of antimicrobials.