DENTISTRY STUDENTS' KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS ABOUT THE USE OF ANTIBIOTICS IN DENTAL MEDICINE

Rezistencija mikroorganizama na antibiotike alarmantno se povećava, a njihovo propisivanje u stomatologiji vjerojatno je, premda u manjem dijelu, tomu doprinjelo. Svrha ovoga istraţivanja bila je procjeniti informiranost o primjeni antibiotika meĎu studentima dentalne medicine u Zagrebu i usporediti znanje studenata 3. i 6. godine studija. Istraţivanju je pristupilo 106 ispitanika, od kojih 54% sa 6. i 46% sa 3. godine studija. Istraţivanje je provedeno putem upitnika osmišljenoga posebno za potrebe ovog istraţivanja. Upitnik se sastojao od 25 pitanja podjeljena prema teoretskom i praktičnom znanju, te po teţini. Zasebnim djelom upitnika se vršila samoprocjena ispitanika. Ispitanici na 6.godini su bili su uspješniji u riješavanju ankete (67%) nego studenti 3.godine (59%). Najznačajnija razlika je bila u uspješnosti rješavanja pitanja iz praktičnog znanja koju su bolje riješili ispitanici sa više godine (67%). Teorijsko znanje o najvaţnijim antibioticima u dentalnoj praksi bilo je podjednako i nije bilo statistički značajno. Kod samoprocjene ispitanici su svoje znanje uglavnom ocjenili sa dobrim i vrlo dobrim, te su podjednako smatrali da im nedostaje znanja u indikacijama, dozama ili mehanizmu djelovanja antibiotika. Općenita informiranost studenata je prema rezultatima ankete bila vrlo zadovoljavajuća iako postoje nedoumice kod odreĎene primjene antibiotika u dentalnoj medicini. Analizirajući rezultate istraţivanja, moţe se zaključiti da bi informiranost mogla biti bolja kako bi studenti nakon završetka studija bili spremni i sigurni samostalno donositi odluke. Taj zaključak ukazuje na potrebu za dodatnom edukacijom iz farmakologije u sklopu kliničkog dijela nastave na Stomatološkom fakultetu, ali i kroz sustav cjeloţivotnog učenja i usavršavanja sa naglaskom na praktičnu primjenu.Microorganisms’ resistance to antibiotics is significantly increasing and the use of antibiotics in dental medicine has, in smaller proportions, contributed to this. The purpose of this research was to establish knowledge of dental students at University of Dental Medicine, Zagreb about antibiotics. The comparison has also been made between third and sixth-year students. The research included 106 participants. 48% were third-year and 52% were sixth-year students. The research was conducted based on a questionnaire designed specifically for the purpose of this research. The questionnaire consisted of 25 questions. The questions were separated based on their difficulty and on theoretical or practical knowledge. Questions on self-assessment composed another, separated part of the questionnaire. The analysis of the results shows that sixth-year students were more successful in completing the questionnaire (67%) than third-year students (59%). The most significant difference occurs in the area of practical knowledge, with sixth-year students answering better (67%). Theoretical knowledge was similar between sixth and third year students. The participants assessed their knowledge as good and very good. Some of the areas that students think they are not informed enough about include the guidelines for prescribing antibiotics, the mechanism, as well as prescribing and dosing antibiotics. By analysing the results of the research, it can be concluded that the students’ knowledge and awareness should be on a higher level. These findings show that there is a need for additional education, as a part of School of Dental Medicine's courses, and through life with the focus on practical usage