The Antibiotic Prescription Knowledge and Practice Among Dentists and Dental Students in Saudi Arabia: A Scoping Review

Introduction: In recent years, antibiotic resistance has increased a lot due to inappropriate prescribing practices, presenting a critical global health challenge. There is evidence of inappropriate prescription practices by dental practitioners in Saudi Arabia. Aim: This scoping review of the published literature aimed to report on the knowledge levels and practice of antibiotic prescriptions among dental practitioners in Saudi Arabia. Methods: Three databases (PubMed, ProQuest and Scopus) were searched for relevant studies; eligible studies (primary research conducted in Saudi Arabia) were organized into three broad domains: knowledge among dental students, knowledge levels among dentists, and prescribing practice among dentists. The quality of the included studies was assessed with the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Results: Of the 407 search records, 22 were eligible for inclusion. Almost all studies (n = 21) were cross-sectional in design. Most of the included studies assessed the knowledge among dental students, interns and practicing dentists. Two studies were analyzing medical records and antibiotic prescribing patterns, whereas only one study was implemented as a clinical audit whose measures resulted in positive outcomes (i.e., decrease in prescriptions and increase in awareness). Most of the studies revealed a low level of knowledge and inappropriate prescription patterns among dental students and interns. Conclusions: Since only one study evaluated an interventional approach (clinical audit) that resulted in a significant reduction in inappropriate prescriptions, future research should focus on measurements and interventions to increase awareness and reduce inappropriate prescriptions.