ABSTRACT
Objectives: to seek the level of knowledge and behaviors on prudent use of antibiotics in dental students. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical analysis was conducted on clinical dental students from four universities in Jakarta. The questionnaire is based on previous validated research. Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-square test. Results: Among 218 participants, 72% had a good knowledge level about prudent use of antibiotics, but there are disparities between universities (p<0.01). Sixty percent of the participants exhibited positive prescribing behavior, which was influenced by the universities they originated from (p<0.01). Conclusion: Dental students possess a substantial amount of understanding about prudent use of antibiotics, but this knowledge has not been implemented into actual antibiotic prescribing practices. Factors that contribute to the prescribing of unnecessary antibiotic is the concern about the patient's deteriorating health and sociocultural prescribing practices that have developed in the place where the students’ study and socialize.
