The use of antibiotics without a prescription remains a significant public health issue in Indonesia.
Misperceptions and lack of knowledge about antibiotics are the main causes of the practice of using
antibiotics without a prescription which is at risk of bacterial resistance. This study aims to evaluate
the effectiveness of health education provided by pharmacists in improving public perception and
knowledge about the proper use of antibiotics. This study used a one-group pre-test and post-test
design to 53 respondents in Kluwih village, Batang district, Central Java. The instrument used was
a perception questionnaire (Linkert scale) and knowledge (Guttman scale). Data analysis was
conducted using paired samples t-test using SPSS software. The results showed a significant
increase in perception and knowledge scores after health education with a significance value of
0,000 (p-value <0.05). Participatory health education has been proven effective in increasing
public understanding of rational antibiotic use and has the potential to reduce the practice of
using antibiotics without a prescription
