Prior Knowledge, Older Age, and Higher Allowance Are Risk Factors for Self-Medication with Antibiotics among University Students in Southern China

Hui Pan, Binglin Cui, Dangui Zhang, Jeremy Farrar, Frieda Law and William Ba-Thein

PLOS ONE, 2012, vol. 7, issue 7, 1-8

Abstract: Background: Self-medication with antibiotics (SMA) has been reported among university students in many countries, but little research has been done on this issue in China. The objective of this study was to evaluate knowledge and behaviors of university students and risk factors concerning SMA. Methodology/Principal Findings: Using a novel questionnaire-based data collection instrument, an anonymous online survey was conducted with the students of Shantou University (STU), a university comprising 8 schools/colleges in eastern Guangdong, China. Of 1,300 respondents (13.8% of total eligible participants), 47.8% had self-treated with antibiotics. Logistic regression analysis identified prior knowledge of antibiotics (PKA), older age, and higher monthly allowance as independent risk factors for SMA. PKA significantly influenced students' knowledge about antibiotics, their uses, and common adverse reactions (all p

Date: 2012
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0041314

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0041314

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