Knowledge of antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance among dental patients in Jordan

Inappropriate antibiotic use is a major driver of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and remains a global public health concern. Dentistry contributes substantially to outpatient antibiotic prescribing, yet patient-level evidence on antibiotic-related knowledge and awareness in dental contexts, particularly in Jordan, is limited. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and awareness of dental patients regarding antibiotic use as well as to explore predictors related to socio-demographics. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among adult dental patients in Jordan between January and March 2026. The questionnaire assessed sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of antibiotic use, resistance and patients’ awareness. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify associations and independent predictors of good knowledge and awareness. A total of 480 participants completed the survey. Participants achieved a moderate overall knowledge and awareness score (mean 5.44 ± 2.27 out of 9). While 86.9% correctly recognised that antibiotics should only be taken when prescribed by a dentist, important knowledge gaps remained. Only 55.6% correctly defined antibiotic resistance, 49.4% correctly identified antibiotic targets, and nearly one-third either believed or were uncertain that antibiotics are routinely required before dental extractions. Female sex, higher educational attainment, and medical employment were independently associated with good antibiotic-related knowledge and awareness. Despite high endorsement of prescription-only antibiotic use, clinically important gaps and misconceptions regarding antibiotic use and resistance persist among dental patients in Jordan. These findings highlight the need for tailored, dental-specific antimicrobial stewardship interventions delivered through dental clinics and reinforced by pharmacy-level regulation and public health education. As participants were recruited using convenience sampling from a single centre, the findings should be interpreted with caution and may not be fully generalisable to the wider Jordanian population.