Assessment of Student Nurses’ Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices on Antimicrobial Resistance

Abstract

Aims: To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of student nurses regarding antimicrobial resistance and determine the relationships among these variables. Study Design:  Descriptive–correlational research design with a cross-sectional approach. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in a private nursing college in Iloilo City during the School Year 2025–2026. Methodology: A total of 305 second-, third-, and fourth-year nursing students were selected using stratified random sampling to ensure proportional representation. Data were gathered through an adopted, validated, and reliable questionnaire composed of four parts: demographic profile, knowledge, attitudes, and practices on antimicrobial resistance. A pilot test was conducted to establish reliability using Cronbach’s alpha. Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices scores were categorized as poor, moderate, or good based on predefined percentage ranges to ensure clear interpretation of results. Ethical approval and informed consent were secured prior to data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test assessed normality. Since the data were not normally distributed, Spearman’s rho was used to determine relationships among variables at a 0.05 level of significance. Results: Out of 305 respondents, the majority were female (77.4%) and fourth-year students (35.4%). Student nurses demonstrated generally good knowledge (mean score was 12.6 out of 16), with 96.67% correctly identifying antibiotics and 96.07% recognizing that improper self-medication contributes to antimicrobial resistance. The overall mean attitude score was 3.88 (SD = 0.85), reflecting positive attitudes, while the overall mean practice score was 3.85 (SD = 1.21), indicating generally appropriate practices. Spearman’s rho analysis revealed a weak but significant relationship between knowledge and attitudes (rs = 0.125, p = 0.029) and between knowledge and practices (rs = 0.271, p < 0.001). A moderate positive relationship was found between attitudes and practices (rs = 0.394, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The study concludes that student nurses demonstrate good knowledge and positive attitudes toward antimicrobial resistance; however, gaps remain in translating knowledge into consistent practices. Strengthening antimicrobial stewardship, nursing education, and clinical training is recommended to promote responsible antibiotic use.