EVALUATION OF THE LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND BEHAVIOR OF KARABÜK UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ON THE USE OF ANTIBIOTICS

Abstract

The aim of our study is to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and awareness of side effects regarding antibiotic use among students at Karabük University. This cross-sectional study investigated the knowledge, attitudes, and behavior levels of 754 students at Karabük University concerning antibiotic use between June 1, 2024, and October 30, 2024. The survey form consisted of 2 sections and a total of 41 questions. The proportion of male participants was 53.18%, and female participants was 46.82%. Among the participating students, 24.4% were from medicine, 20.42% from engineering, 19.1% from dentistry, 15.52% from health sciences, 14.72% from education, and 5.84% from other faculties. 85.01% of the participants believe that antibiotics are used to kill germs and resolve inflammation. 93.63% of the participants stated that antibiotics should not be used without a doctor's prescription. Upper respiratory tract infection was reported as the most common reason for non-prescription antibiotic use, at 75.9%. The frequency of medical faculty students agreeing with the statement "I can understand whether I need antibiotics myself" was found to be statistically significantly higher than that of engineering faculty students. The study shows that students at Karabük University generally have knowledge about antibiotic use; however, some misconceptions and unnecessary usage habits still exist. Enhancing knowledge through educational initiatives is crucial for preventing antibiotic resistance and promoting healthier communities.