Enhancing Antibiotic Literacy among University Students through Health Education in Higher Education

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance has become a major global health challenge, primarily driven by the irrational use of antibiotics. University students, as educated individuals and potential agents of change, play a strategic role in promoting rational antibiotic use within society. However, previous studies indicate that antibiotic literacy among students remains insufficient. This community service program aimed to improve antibiotic literacy among university students through structured health education activities in a higher education setting. The program employed interactive lectures, case-based discussions, and evaluation using pre-test and post-test instruments. The results demonstrated an improvement in students’ understanding of rational antibiotic use, antimicrobial resistance, and ethical practices in searching for health information on the internet. These findings indicate that educational interventions are effective in enhancing antibiotic literacy among university students and have the potential to contribute to long-term efforts to prevent antimicrobial resistance.