Attitude of the Northern State Medical University students to their own health, using the example of ARVI prevention

The most common infectious disease is ARVI. According to Rosstat, respiratory infections are the main cause of temporary disability. Healthcare workers play a key role in shaping the population's attitude to the prevention of ARVI and influenza. We conducted an electronic online survey among 180 students of the Northern State Medical University using the Google platform. During 2024, 83.3 % of the respondents suffered from ARVI at least once. Most respondents (78.3 %) preferred to self-medicate at the first signs of ARVI. The study has shown that students are insufficiently aware of the mechanisms of action of influenza vaccination. According to the data, 60 % of the respondents believe that vaccination helps to develop immunity and prevents the development of diseases. The average level of students' commitment to vaccination was revealed: the share of those vaccinated was 67.8 %. The students mainly noted mistrust of vaccines as the reason for refusing vaccination. Non-specific measures for preventing influenza and acute respiratory viral infections are prevalent among the students.