Knowledge, attitude, and practice related to antibiotics self-medication among students at Tehran Azad University of Medical Sciences, 2022
Journal of Behdasht dar Arseh (i.e., Health in the Field),
Vol. 12 No. 1 (1403),
27 August 2024
,
Page 37-45
https://doi.org/10.22037/jhf.v12i1.45272
Abstract
Background and Aims: Self-medication among university students, as educated members of society, is a significant public health concern. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of students towards self-medication with antibiotics at Tehran Islamic Azad University of Medical Sciences, 2021.
Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted during the academic year 2021-2022 among 438 students at the Islamic Azad University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran. The participants were selected using a convenience sampling approach. Data was collected through a researcher-made questionnaire, the validity of which had been confirmed by an expert panel. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, which yielded values of 0.84 for the awareness items, 0.78 for the attitude items, and 0.80 for the performance items. For data analysis, both descriptive and analytical statistical methods were employed using SPSS software version 25. Ethical considerations were taken into account throughout the study design, data collection, and analysis stages.
Results: The results of this study indicated that the level of awareness among the student participants regarding the self-administration of antibiotics was moderate in 82.4% of cases and good in 14.8%. Regarding their attitudes, 81.3% of the participants exhibited a moderate stance, while 57.8% of the students displayed a poor performance in relation to the self-administration of antibiotics. More than half (61%) of the participants had engaged in the self-administration of antibiotics, with the primary reasons being obtaining a satisfactory outcome from previous self-administration and lacking sufficient time to consult a physician.
Conclusion: Given the relatively high rate of self-medication with antibiotics among the students, it is necessary to implement educational interventions and change their attitudes and habits regarding seeking medical attention when sick.
- Self-medication, Antibiotic, Knowledge, Attitude, Practice
How to Cite
References
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