Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of medical students towards rational drug use (RDU). METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted with 993 medical students between March and June 2023. Sociodemographic data form and rational drug use scale (RDUS) were used to obtain research data. RESULTS: The students' average RDU knowledge level score was 37.7 ± 5.7, and the rate of those with a high knowledge level was 85.5%. The knowledge level of RDU was higher in female (p<0.001), in non-smokers (p=0.027), and in those whose family's monthly income was medium and high (p=0.015). Of the students, 36.6% had heard of the concept of RDU, and 69.7% had received training on this subject at the faculty of medicine. As an unexpected finding, the RDUS score was found to be higher in those who had never heard of the concept of RDU before (p<0.001), in those who did not receive RDU training in medical school (p=0.008), and in those who evaluated their RDU knowledge level as moderate or poor (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: It is obvious that the concept of RDU is one of the topics that medical students should know. Therefore, it is very important to provide adequate and effective education regarding this concept in medical faculties.