Evaluation of knowledge and attitudes regarding rational drug use of individuals applying to the oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the knowledge and attitudes of individuals who applied to the oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic about rational drug use and to reveal whether these knowledge and attitudes differ according to demographic characteristics. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional survey study was conducted on patients admitted to the oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic of a university. In the study, a 21-item “rational drug use scale” was used to measure the participants’ knowledge and attitudes about rational drug use. p<0.05 was determined as the significance level. Results: A total of 247 participants in the 18-65 age range (mean age 36.03±12.92) were included in the study. More than half of the participants (56.7%) showed attitudes and behaviors suitable for rational drug use by getting 35 points or more on the scale. Only 58.3% of the participants expressed a positive opinion that herbal products can have undesirable effects and that they should use the drug as long as the doctor recommends. There were significant differences between participant scores in terms of gender, age, education level, profession, and distance to a health institution. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that a significant part of the participants (43.3%) exhibited attitudes and behaviors that are not suitable for rational drug use and that there is a need for training on this subject. The society should be informed more about rational drug use through media tools such as public service announcements.