Measuring Medical Students’ Awareness of Rational Drug Use and Assessing Associated Factors

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to measure Selcuk University Medical Faculty (SUMF) students’ levels of awareness of rational drug use (RDU) in adults and to assess related factors. Material and Methods: The data for this descriptive, cross-sectional study derived from an online questionnaire completed by SUMF students; the questionnaire employed a sociodemographic survey form and the Rational Drug Use Scale. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS software, and a p-value of <.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Four hundred and forty-six students (51.1% women, 48.9% men) participated in this study. The results show that awareness of correct usage was higher in women than in men (p=.10) and that awareness of the correct drug (p=.03), correct usage (p=.02), and RDU (p=.07) was higher in post-clinical students than in preclinical students. Awareness of correct information (p=.08), the correct drug (p=.30), correct usage (p=.09), and RDU (p=.02) was higher in students who took RDU education than in those who did not. Awareness of correct information (p=.18), correct use (p=.20), and RDU (p=.15) was also higher in students who considered RDU education necessary than in those who did not. Conclusion: Irrational drug use has negative effects on the health sector and the economy. The results of this research indicate that students’ RDU awareness levels should be improved. To broaden awareness of RDU, practices such as lectures and seminars should be implemented in schools, and advertisements and programs that encourage unnecessary drug use should be limited in the media, such as the internet and TV.

Keywords

• akılcı ilaç kullanımı
• farkındalık
• tıp eğitimi
• rational drug use
• medical education
• awareness