Evaluation of the Rational Drug Use (RDU) literacy among undergraduate students

Supapaan, Teeraporn Sadira; Low, Bee Yean; Anderson, Claire; Boonlue, Tuanthon; Puripunyavanich, Napaphorn; Khumsikiew, Jeerisuda; Pitchayajittipong, Chonladda; Poonphol, Prasittichai

Abstract

Background: Irrational drug usage is a global concern. WHO recommended a strategy for integrating education and awareness on the rational use of medicine into general education programs.

Objective: To evaluate the rational drug use (RDU) literacy among the undergraduate students of Ubon Ratchathani University.

Methods: This mixed-methods research consists of a quantitative cross-sectional study with a self-administered RDU literacy questionnaire and a qualitative in-depth interview study. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used in the quantitative study. Thematic analysis was used in the qualitative study.

Results: Students who participated in this study included 640 undergraduate students. Approximately half of the participants never studied a RDU-related course (50.94%). Although the findings revealed that most of the participants (73.13%) had good RDU literacy, many participants had less frequency of the right options on some questions (e.g., advertisement of health products). Health sciences students were 2.8 times more likely than non-health sciences students to have good RDU literacy (AOR=2.835, 95% CI: 1.752-4.587). Four main themes were derived from the qualitative study: 1. Definition of RDU; 2. Facilitators; 3. Concerns; 4. RDU country.

Conclusion: While the majority of participants demonstrated good RDU literacy, some actually engaged in irrational drug use. Activities promoting RDU literacy among undergraduate students, particularly in faculties other than health sciences, are still required.

Citation

Supapaan, T. S., Low, B. Y., Anderson, C., Boonlue, T., Puripunyavanich, N., Khumsikiew, J., Pitchayajittipong, C., & Poonphol, P. (2023). Evaluation of the Rational Drug Use (RDU) literacy among undergraduate students. Pharmacy Practice, 21(4), Article 2867. https://doi.org/10.18549/PharmPract.2023.4.2867

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 2, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Nov 14, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023-12
• Deposit Date: Jan 4, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 4, 2024
• Journal: Pharmacy Practice
• Print ISSN: 1886-3655
• Electronic ISSN: 1886-3655
• Publisher: Centro de Investigaciones y Publicaciones Farmaceuticas
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 21
• Issue: 4
• Article Number: 2867
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.18549/PharmPract.2023.4.2867
• Keywords: Rational drug use (RDU); literacy; undergraduate students
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/29268053
• Publisher URL: https://www.pharmacypractice.org/index.php/pp/article/view/2867
• Additional Information: Supapaan TS, Low BY, Anderson C, Boonlue T, Puripunyavanich N, Khumsikiew J, Pitchayajittipong C, Poonphol P. Evaluation of the Rational Drug Use (RDU) literacy among undergraduate students. Pharmacy Practice 2023 Oct-Dec;21(4):2867. https://doi.org/10.18549/PharmPract.2023.4.2867 1