Knowledge, attitude, and practice of antifungal resistance and stewardship among pharmacy students in Zambia: a cross-sectional study to inform antifungal stewardship programs

A cross-sectional study in Zambia assessed pharmacy students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding antifungal resistance (AFR) and antifungal stewardship (AFS). This research is critical given the growing global health threat posed by AFR, especially in low- and middle-income countries where antifungal access is often unregulated. The study aimed to inform the development of effective AFS programs by understanding the baseline awareness and behaviors of future pharmacists.

Why it matters

Antifungal resistance poses a significant global health security risk, potentially undermining medical treatments and increasing morbidity and mortality. Understanding the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of future healthcare professionals is crucial for developing targeted educational and policy interventions to mitigate this threat and ensure responsible antimicrobial stewardship.

Key insights

• Antifungal resistance (AFR) represents an increasing global health concern.
• Low- and middle-income countries, such as Zambia, face particular challenges due to often unregulated access to antifungals.
• Antifungal Stewardship (AFS) programs are designed to optimize antifungal utilization.
• There is a recognized data gap concerning pharmacy students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding AFR and AFS.
• The study specifically evaluated the KAP of pharmacy students in Zambia to address this data gap and inform AFS program development.
• A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 288 randomly selected pharmacy students using a structured questionnaire.

Source

Frontiers in Education — https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2026.1846353