POPULATION DATA COLLECTION SURVEYS FOR IDENTIFYING THE LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE ON HEALTH-RELATED ISSUES

INTRODUCTION: The discovery of antibiotics was a significant milestone in the history of medicine. However, the irrational use of antibiotics has become one of the main drivers of antibiotic resistance. Consequently, numerous scientific works have been published on this topic, and tools aimed at raising awareness and educating the population on the correct use of antibiotics have been developed. Antibiotic resistance is a global issue, impacting the treatment of infectious diseases and undermining other medical advancements. Thus, combating resistance is a top priority for the World Health Organization (WHO). It is crucial to understand the public’s knowledge, attitudes, and experiences regarding antibiotic use, as well as to identify educational needs. AIMS: The objective of this research was to compile and analyze various questionnaires used in related studies about the correct use of antimicrobials and compare them with the WHO’s questionnaire. For the literature review, academic websites were searched for questionnaires related to antibiotics. A detailed analysis of the questions used in these studies was conducted, resulting in a spreadsheet categorizing the questions into three types: demographic, knowledge-based, and behavior-based, alongside those from the WHO questionnaire. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The research involved searching databases for articles that referenced any questionnaire related to antibiotic use. This effort culminated in a comparative table analyzing these articles and their questionnaires against the WHO questionnaire. For the literature review, researched on academic websites regarding questionnaires related to antibiotics and from there, an paper analysis was carried out, specific the questions used and after that, created a spreadsheet containing the three types of questions (demographic, of knowledge and behavior) , in addition to questions related to the WHO questionnaire. RESULTS: Based on the analysis of articles and questionnaires, informative material was developed for the future implementation of an awareness campaign on the correct use of antibiotics among PUCPR students. The campaign includes banners, folders, and buttons designed to educate the target group on proper antimicrobial use. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: In summary, this ongoing awareness project aims to enlighten PUCPR students about the correct use of antibiotics, ultimately contributing to the global fight against antimicrobial resistance.

KEYWORDS: 1. Antibiotics; 2. Resistance; 3.Questionnaire; 4. WHO; 5. Awareness.