KNOWLEDGE AND BEHAVIORAL ATTITUDES OF STUDENTS IN THE SELF-USE OF ANTIBIOTICS

Abstract

Antibiotics play an essential role in treating infections; however, the unauthorized use of antibiotics without a doctor's prescription has become a serious issue, contributing to the rise of antibiotic resistance. In Vietnam, this issue is particularly common among university students, including those studying medicine and pharmacy as well as students from other disciplines. This study was conducted to review research findings on students' knowledge and behavior regarding self-medication with antibiotics at several universities during the period from 2017 to 2024. The goal is to provide a comprehensive overview of antibiotic use among university students nationwide. The study results indicate that students' knowledge and behavior were assessed through a questionnaire. The findings reveal that although knowledge and behavior scores were high among medical and pharmacy students and moderate among students from other disciplines, the rate of self-medication with antibiotics remained high across all groups.