Drug Prescription Awareness Among Dental Students in Kerala: a Survey of Current Knowledge and Awareness

Background: Prescribing medicine is a core skill for dentists, impacting patient safety and requiring knowledge of medications, dosages, and risks. This study evaluates dental students' awareness of these critical aspects in Kerala, India. Objective: This study aimed to assess drug prescription awareness among dental students in Kerala, India, highlighting current knowledge, standard practices, and areas for improvement. Methods: We actively recruited 300 final-year BDS students and dental house surgeons from various colleges throughout Kerala to participate in a cross-sectional survey. The participants actively completed a validated questionnaire that assessed their drug prescription practices, knowledge of common conditions and medications, and preferred information sources. Descriptive statistics and inferential analyses were then actively employed to evaluate the collected data. Results: Dental pain emerged as the most commonly treated condition (57.7%), with Amoxicillin reigning as the antibiotic of choice (69.2%-76.3%). Textbooks reigned supreme as the primary source of prescription information (66.4%-58.3%), even as most participants (78.1%-72.4%) acknowledged the WHO prescribing guidelines. While interns demonstrably boasted greater confidence in their knowledge, nearly half of all participants grappled with a lack of confidence in drug dosage and frequency. Incorrect dosage stood out as the Achilles' heel of prescription practices (71.9%-77.6%). Strengths included awareness of the correct route of delivery (61.6%-74.4%) and adherence to WHO guidelines. Conclusion: Dental students in Kerala demonstrate fair drug prescription awareness but have gaps in knowledge regarding dosage, frequency, and duration. Textbooks are the primary information source, highlighting the need for more in-depth education and reliance on evidence-based resources. Targeted interventions focused on these areas could enhance prescribing practices and patient safety. Clinical relevance: A clear understanding of drug prescription forms an essential foundation of clinical practice among future dental practitioners. Assessing this is necessary to form corrective measures in our education system that ensure sufficient and succinct therapeutic practices.