LEVANTAMENTO DO CONHECIMENTO DE ESTUDANTES DA ESCOLA DE MEDICINA E CIÊNCIAS DA VIDA QUANTO AO USO DE ANTIBIÓTICOS

INTRODUCTION: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an adaptation mechanism in which microorganisms develop the ability to withstand the effects of previously effective medicines. Although this is a naturally occurring process, it is exacerbated by the misuse of antimicrobials, improper disposal, and inappropriate prescriptions, often driven by pressure on general practitioners. One strategy to address these issues is to increase public awareness, thereby reducing misconceptions about antibiotic effects and providing proper guidance on their use. The impact of an awareness campaign can be challenging to measure, but its effectiveness can be assessed by surveying the target audience’s knowledge and behaviors before and after the campaign. This method allows for an evaluation of the campaign’s impact. AIMS: The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge of and behaviors regarding AMR among students at the School of Medicine and Life Sciences at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were gathered via a survey and statistically analyzed to inform future awareness campaigns. The survey was conducted using Qualtrics XM software, and the results were analyzed and visualized in Microsoft Excel. RESULTS: The findings indicated that professors are the most effective medium for disseminating AMR information within the university. Additionally, the knowledge of AMR among SMLS students was found to be relatively high. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: It is theorized that the high level of knowldge is partially due to the fact that PUCPR is a private university. Further studies are needed to evaluate the campaign’s effects and efficiency before applying it on a larger scale.

KEYWORDS: 1. knowledge assessment; 2. behavior 3. antibiotic prescription; 4. awareness; 5. health promotion.