Awareness of Syrian Private University students about the Use of antibiotics for respiratory infections

Abstract

Abstract Background and aim of the research: The use and selection of appropriate antibiotics in respiratory infections is extremely important. The current study aimed to determine the awareness of medical students at the Syrian Private University about the use of antibiotics in respiratory infections. Methods and materials: Samples were collected at the Syrian Private University through an electronic questionnaire that was distributed to the special groups of the Syrian Private University. The samples were analyzed using the SPSS program during official working hours. The sample selection method was convenience sampling. Our required sample size was 295, which met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and design. The study is cross-sectional. Results The study included (295) students, most of whom were sixth-year students (25.8%). Most of the students used both azithromycin and amoxicillin. Most students answered that antibiotics should be used when suffering from pneumonia (96.5%) and acute bronchitis (45.8%). Most of the students answered that green sputum is evidence of a bacterial infection and antibiotics should be used (30.1%), the ideal treatment for acute bronchitis is antibiotics (50.8%), the optimal treatment for purulent sinusitis and rhinitis is antibiotics (61.4%), and the ideal treatment for the common cold is antibiotics (62.7%), and antibiotics are used for asthma attacks, tonsillitis, and laryngitis (44.1%, 75.6%, 45.5%). Conclusion The awareness rate was higher among sixth and fifth year students for each type of antibiotic used. Antibiotics must be prescribed in the case of bacterial pneumonia. The green color of the sputum is evidence of a bacterial infection. Treating purulent sinusitis is with antibiotics. Treating colds is symptomatic. Purulent tonsillitis is treated with antibiotics.