TREATMENT OF URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS: STUDY ON PATIENTS' BELIEFS AND ATTITUDES

The present study investigated patients' opinions and attitudes regarding the use of antibiotics and plant-based products in the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs). The research was conducted as a cross-sectional study, using a validated questionnaire for data collection. The results indicate that the majority of respondents considered antibiotics (74.3%) and plant-based products (87.9%) to be effective in treating UTIs, while approximately half of the participants evaluated plant-based products as being more effective than antibiotics. Additionally, over 50% of respondents believed that plant-based products could be administered concomitantly with other medications. Regarding the treatments used, patients who exhibited UTI symptoms were treated with antibiotics in 63.9% of cases, while 78.6% also used plant-based products. Data analysis revealed that patients who perceived plant-based products as more effective than antibiotics were 40.4% less likely to use antibiotics and 138.2% more likely to opt for plant-based products. Furthermore, positive beliefs regarding the efficacy, safety, and compatibility of concomitant administration with other medications, along with access to adequate information, significantly increased the use