title: Survey of medication knowledge and behaviors among college students in Taiwan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To survey the knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards safe medication use of first-year college students in Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred forty-seven departments in 27 universities were sampled by stratified randomization. Three sections of the questionnaire were developed, including 10 true/false questions to measure knowledge, 4 questions for attitude in a 5-point scale, and 10 questions for practice in a 5-point scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 6270 subjects completed the survey instrument for a valid response rate of 91.9%. Students who were health science majors had safer medication practices than non-health science majors. However, students in both groups had low scores on appropriate antibiotics use, with a correctness rate of 45.8%. Knowledge relating to antacid use had the lowest number of correct responses among the 10 items included in the survey. Overall, the students showed positive attitudes toward (12.6 +/- 2.2) and trusted (3.6 +/- 0.7) pharmacists' consultation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  College students lack appropriate knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to the safe use of medications, and efforts are warranted in Taiwan.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Fei-Yuan
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.forename: Jen-Ai
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Weng-Foung
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Shih-Ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hsiang-Yin
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003479:Curriculum; D004358:Drug Therapy; D004500:Education, Graduate; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012449:Safety; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan; D014495:Universities