Data Sheet 1_Knowledge and misconceptions about antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance among secondary school students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: implications for school- based antibiotic resistance education.pdf

Misconceptions were common regarding the treatment of viral infections, the biological basis of AR, and the role of antibiotic use in agriculture and food-producing animals. Correct responses to AR concept statements ranged from 8.7% to 42.2%. Students were more familiar with the terms antibiotic-resistant bacteria (49.4%), antibiotic resistance (44.5%), and drug resistance (40.6%) than with antimicrobial resistance (21.6%) or AMR (21.9%).

Doctors were the most frequently reported source of information, whereas awareness campaigns were among the least frequently reported. After adjustment, club participation was not associated with the AR-concept score (β = 0.27, 95% CI −0.20 to 0.73), whereas female gender (β = 0.69, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.91) and private-school attendance (β = 0.30, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.54) were independently associated with higher knowledge of appropriate antibiotic use.

Most students (61.7%) supported incorporating antibiotic use and AMR education into school curricula, primarily to increase awareness and knowledge and to protect individual and community health.</p>Conclusions<p>Secondary school students in Riyadh demonstrated positive attitudes toward responsible antibiotic use but had important gaps in their understanding of AR. Strengthening school-based AR education, including appropriate antibiotic use, core AR concepts, and One Health concepts, could improve students' awareness and support national efforts to combat AR.</p>