Pharmacy students’ knowledge and attitudes towards antibiotic use: A cross-sectional study

Zekiye Yılmaz; Zehra Gülben Yorguner

Pharmacy students’ knowledge and attitudes towards antibiotic use: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Antibiotics are the most common and most used drug group in the world. Misuse and overuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of antibiotic resistance, infections that are difficult to treat and have a high mortality rate may occur, the length of hospital stay, and health expenses may increase, as well as drug side effects and interactions increases. In this context, rational use of antibiotics and informing public has a great importance for the world. In this study, we aimed to reveal insights about the knowledge and attitudes of future healthcare professionals, pharmacy students, towards antibiotic use. The mean age of the participants in this study was 21.65±2.37 and 78.7% of participants were female. The participants’ total mean score from Antibiotic Use Scale was 36.05 ± 11.17 while the score of attitudes subdimension was 19.27 ± 7.54; subjective norm was 9.97 ± 3.14 and intention was 6.81 ± 3.47. In this study we evaluated the pharmacy students’ knowledge and attitudes towards antibiotic use and identified factors that negatively affect rational antibiotic use. The findings of this study contribute to our understanding of the complex dynamics surrounding antibiotic use. This was a cross-sectional study conducted among pharmacy students. The data was collected with the help of Volunteer Data Form and Antibiotic Use Scale via google forms.

Keywords

References

[1] Shaikh S, Fatima J, Shakil S, Rizvi SM, Kamal MA. Antibiotic resistance and extended spectrum beta-lactamases: Types, epidemiology and treatment. Saudi J Biol Sci. 2015;22(1):90–101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2014.08.002
[2] Alekshun MN, Levy SB. Molecular mechanisms of antibacterial multidrug resistance. Cell. 2007;128(6):1037-1050. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2007.03.004
[3] World Health Organization. Ten threats to global health in 2019. https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/ten-threats-to-global-health-in-2019#:~:text=This%20watchlist%20for%20priority%20research,that%20could%20cause%20a%20serious (accessed on 3 April 2023).
[4] Üney A, Sağlık, İlaç ve Eczacılık İstatistikleri Yıllığı, first ed. Ankara, Turkey, Türk Eczacıları Birliği; 2018. p. 59.
[5] OECD. Ⓒ2022 Antimicrobial resistance in the EU/EEA: A one health response. https://www.oecd.org/health/Antimicrobial-Resistance-in-the-EU-EEA-A-One-Health-Response-March-2022.pdf (accessed on 4 April 2023).
[6] Sisay M, Mengistu G, Molla B, Amare F, Gabriel T. Evaluation of rational drug use based on World Health Organization core drug use indicators in selected public hospitals of eastern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. BMC Health Serv Res. 2017;17:161. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-017-2097-3
[7] Sema FD, Asres ED, Wubeshet BD. Evaluation of rational use of medicine using WHO/INRUD core drug use indicators at Teda and Azezo Health Centers, Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia. Integr Pharm Res Pract. 2021;10:51-63. https://doi.org/10.2147/IPRP.S316399
[8] Yalçın Balçık P, Selvi Sarıgül S. The rational use of drug and antibiotics. Hacettepe Sağlık İdaresi Dergisi. 2019;22(3):695-709.

[9] Demirtaş Z, Dağtekin G, Sağlan R, Alaiye M, Önsüz MF, Işıklı B, et al. Akılcı ilaç kullanımı ölçeği geçerlilik ve güvenilirliği. ESTÜDAM Halk Sağlığı Dergisi. 2018;3(3):37-46.
[10] Almarsdóttir AB, Traulsen JM. Rational use of medicines – an important issue in pharmaceutical policy. Pharm World Sci. 2005;27(2):76–80. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-005-3303-7
[11] Kalaça S. Sağlık hizmeti sunanların ve alanların akılcı ilaç kullanımındaki rolleri. In: Akıncı A (Ed). Topluma yönelik akılcı ilaç kullanımı. First ed. Ankara: T.C. Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu Başkanlığı: 2013. p. 16-20.
[12] Apikoglu-Rabus S, Yesilyaprak G, İzzettin FV. Drug-related problems and pharmacist interventions in a cohort of patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Respir Med. 2016;120:109-115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmed.2016.10.006
[13] Yılmaz Z, Sancar M, Okuyan B, Yeşildağ O, İzzettin FV. Impact of verbal and web-based patient education programs driven by clinical pharmacist on the adherence and illness perception of hypertensive patients. Indian J of Pharmaceutical Education and Research. 2020;54(3s):s695-s704. https://doi.org/10.5530/ijper.54.3s.170
[14] Chauhan I, Yasir M, Kumari M, Verma M. The pursuit of rational drug use: Understanding factors and interventions. Pharmaspire. 2018;10(2):48-54.
[15] Yeşildağ AY, Ağırbaş İ, Yılmaz G. Determination of the rational drug use awareness of university students. Hacettepe University Journal of the Faculty of Pharmacy. 2022;42(1):1-12. https://doi.org/10.52794/hujpharm.1024991
[16] Jairoun A, Hassan N, Ali A, Jairoun O, Shahwan M, Hassali M. University students’ knowledge, attitudes, and practice regarding antibiotic use and associated factors: a cross-sectional study in the United Arab Emirates. Int J Gen Med. 2019;12:235-246. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJGM.S200641
[17] Baddal B, Lajunen TJ, Sullman MJM. Knowledge, attitudes and behaviours regarding antibiotics use among Cypriot university students: a multi-disciplinary survey. BMC Med Educ. 2022;22:847. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-022-03853-2
[18] McNulty C, Cookson BD, Lewis MAO. Education of healthcare professionals and the public. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2012;67(1):i11–i18. https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/dks199
[19] Majumder MAA, Singh K, Hilaire MG, Rahman S, Sa B, Haque M. Tackling antimicrobial resistance by promoting antimicrobial stewardship in medical and allied health professional curricula. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2020;18(12):1245–1258. https://doi.org/10.1080/14787210.2020.1796638
[20] Justo JA, Gauthier TP, Scheetz MH, Chahine EB, Bookstaver PB, Gallagher JC, et al. Knowledge and attitudes of doctor of pharmacy students regarding the appropriate use of antimicrobials. Clin Infect Dis. 2014;59(3):S162–S169. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciu537
[21] Kukula O. Evaluation of knowledge and behaviors of students in faculty of medicine towards rational drug use. Turk J Clin Lab. 2019;11:294-300. https://doi.org/10.18663/tjcl.469300
[22] Núñez M, Tresierra-Ayala M, Gil-Olivares F. Antibiotic self-medication in university students from Trujillo, Peru. Medicina Universitaria. 2017;73(18):205-209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmu.2016.10.003
[23] Al-Ameri RJ, Abd Al-Badri HJ, Lafta RK. Prevalence of self-medication among university students in Baghdad: a cross-sectional study from Iraq. East Mediterr Health J. 2017;23(2):87-93. https://doi.org/10.26719/2017.23.2.87
[24] Al-Bohassan TBH, Al-Aithan A, Al-Beladi A, Al-Ali H, Al-Omran H. The prevalence of antibiotic self-medication practice and attitude among medical and non-medical students in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia. J Drug Metab Toxicol. 2016;7(3):78. https://doi.org/10.4172/2157-7609.C1.006
[25] Hu Y, Wang X, Tucker JD, Little P, Moore M, Fukuda K, et al. Knowledge, attitude, and practice with respect to antibiotic use among Chinese medical students: A multicentre cross-sectional study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(6):1165. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15061165
[26] Dönmez S, Güngör K, Göv P. Knowledge, attitude and practice of self-medication with antibiotics among nursing students. Int J Pharmacol. 2018;14(1):136-143. https://doi.org/10.3923/ijp.2018.136.143
[27] Okyay RA, Erdogan A. Self-medication practices and rational drug use habits among university students: a cross-sectional study from Kahramanmaraş, Turkey. Peer J. 2017;5:e3990. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3990
[28] Scaioli G, Gualano MR, Gili R, Masucci S, Bert F, Siliquini R. Antibiotic use: a cross-sectional survey assessing the knowledge, attitudes and practices amongst students of a school of medicine in Italy. PLoS One. 2015;10(4):e0122476. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0122476
[29] Saleem Z, Saeed H, Ahmad M, Yousaf M, Hassan HB, Javed A, et al. Antibiotic self-prescribing trends, experiences and attitudes in upper respiratory tract infection among pharmacy and non-pharmacy students: A study from Lahore. PLoS One. 2016;11(2):e0149929. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0149929
[30] Pal B, Murti K, Gupta AK, Choudhury U, Rastogi M, Pandey H, et al. Self medication with antibiotics among medical and pharmacy students in North India. Curr Res Med. 2016;7(2):7-12. https://doi.org/10.3844/amjsp.2016.7.12
[31] Harakeh S, Almatrafi M, Ungapen H, Hammad R, Olayan F, Hakim R, et al. Perceptions of medical students towards antibiotic prescribing for upper respiratory tract infections in Saudi Arabia. BMJ Open Respir Res. 2015;2(1):e000078. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjresp-2014-000078
[32] Şantaş F, Demirgil B. Akılcı ilaç kullanımına ilişkin bir araştırma. İşletme Bilimi Dergisi. 2017;5(1):35-48. https://doi.org/10.22139/jobs.286671
[33] Burki MR, Shakeel S, Hayat S, Khan AH, Iqbal MS, Khan J. Evaluation of knowledge, attitude and practices of university students towards rational use of medicines. Medical Science. 2020;24(106):4425-4437.
[34] Atik AD, Doğan Y. Antibiyotik kullanım ölçeği: Ölçek geliştirme çalışması. Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi. 2019;16(1):1248-1276. https://doi.org/10.23891/efdyyu.2019.160

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Zekiye Yılmaz ^*
0000-0002-0041-6140
Türkiye

Zehra Gülben Yorguner This is me
0009-0002-8734-3104
Türkiye

Publication Date

June 28, 2025

Submission Date

August 18, 2023

Acceptance Date

September 1, 2023

Published in Issue

Year 2023 Volume: 27 Number: 5

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA79XA62UG

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Yılmaz, Z., & Yorguner, Z. G. (2025). Pharmacy students’ knowledge and attitudes towards antibiotic use: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Research in Pharmacy, 27(5), 2106-2114. https://izlik.org/JA79XA62UG

AMA

1.Yılmaz Z, Yorguner ZG. Pharmacy students’ knowledge and attitudes towards antibiotic use: A cross-sectional study. J. Res. Pharm. 2025;27(5):2106-2114. https://izlik.org/JA79XA62UG

Chicago

Yılmaz, Zekiye, and Zehra Gülben Yorguner. 2025. “Pharmacy Students’ Knowledge and Attitudes towards Antibiotic Use: A Cross-Sectional Study”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 27 (5): 2106-14. https://izlik.org/JA79XA62UG.

EndNote

Yılmaz Z, Yorguner ZG (July 1, 2025) Pharmacy students’ knowledge and attitudes towards antibiotic use: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 27 5 2106–2114.

IEEE

[1]Z. Yılmaz and Z. G. Yorguner, “Pharmacy students’ knowledge and attitudes towards antibiotic use: A cross-sectional study”, J. Res. Pharm., vol. 27, no. 5, pp. 2106–2114, July 2025, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA79XA62UG

ISNAD

Yılmaz, Zekiye - Yorguner, Zehra Gülben. “Pharmacy Students’ Knowledge and Attitudes towards Antibiotic Use: A Cross-Sectional Study”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 27/5 (July 1, 2025): 2106-2114. https://izlik.org/JA79XA62UG.

JAMA

1.Yılmaz Z, Yorguner ZG. Pharmacy students’ knowledge and attitudes towards antibiotic use: A cross-sectional study. J. Res. Pharm. 2025;27:2106–2114.

MLA

Yılmaz, Zekiye, and Zehra Gülben Yorguner. “Pharmacy Students’ Knowledge and Attitudes towards Antibiotic Use: A Cross-Sectional Study”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy, vol. 27, no. 5, July 2025, pp. 2106-14, https://izlik.org/JA79XA62UG.

Vancouver

1.Zekiye Yılmaz, Zehra Gülben Yorguner. Pharmacy students’ knowledge and attitudes towards antibiotic use: A cross-sectional study. J. Res. Pharm. [Internet]. 2025 Jul. 1;27(5):2106-14. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA79XA62UG