Abstract & Overview
Purpose: The aim is to study the awareness of the population about the correct use of antibacterial drugs and identify the sources of this information.Methods. A questionnaire method was used in the study with developed questionnaire consisting of six blocks and 41 questions. Statistical data analysis was carried out using the programs Statistica for Windows version 10.0 and R-studio.Results. There were 2,725 participants in the survey. Only 23.6% of respondents (n = 642) said they had received information on the risks of using antimicrobial drugs properly in the previous 12 months, while a vast majority (75.2%, n = 1,566) indicated that they would have wanted to. Antibiotic resistance (20.4%, n = 555), rational drug use (30.9%, n = 840), and indications for using antibacterial drugs (35.9%, n = 980) were the most sought-after topics for further research. Doctors (59.4%, n = 1619), medicine instructions (45.5%, n = 1239), the Internet (22.7%, n = 619) and personal (previous) experience using antibiotics (21.0%, n = 572) were the main sources of knowledge about antibacterial drugs, which were most frequently used by residents. Using the results, portraits of the population were developed based on the main source of knowledge on antibiotics.Conclusion. It is necessary to regularly educate the population about correct antibiotic usage and antibiotic resistance, keeping in mind their primary interests and the information’s sources.