| Summary: | Introduction
This cross-sectional study assessed medication
knowledge levels among first year students at a university
in northern Thailand and compared students from health
sciences and non-health sciences.
Methods
A self-administered questionnaire survey was
performed in a university located in northern Thailand,
including six faculties of health sciences, ten faculties of social
sciences, and five faculties of basic sciences and technology.
Participants comprised first-year students (aged ≥18 years)
studying at this university in 2016. Information was collected
regarding medication knowledge levels using 19 questions of
4 drug types, including paracetamol, anti-inflammatory drugs,
antibiotics, and ophthalmic drugs in 4 areas: indications
of drugs, dosage regimens and precautions, storage and
expiration, and appropriateness of drug use.
Results
Of 400 students (87 health sciences, 313 non-health
sciences), the average score on medication knowledge was
12.3 ± 2.7 (max score=19). Students from health sciences had
higher medication knowledge levels than those from nonhealth
sciences (14.0 ± 1.8 vs 11.9 ± 2.8; p<0.001).
Conclusions
First year university students had medication
knowledge at a moderate level, and health sciences students
had higher knowledge levels. Universities should promote and
provide medication knowledge to their students.
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