Determination of Health Perception and Substance Addiction Awareness Among Personnel Working in Student Dormitories

Objective: The present study was designed to determine health perception and substance addiction awareness among personnel working in university student dormitories. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used in the study. The data were completed with the participation of 208 dormitory personnel who were at the Ataturk University Culture Center for educational purposes on 14.04.2023. Data were collected using a personal descriptive form, the Health Perception Scale, and the Substance Addiction Awareness Scale. Results: The study included 208 participants, with a 50.48% participation rate. The average age was 38.76±8.84; most were male (59.1%) and married (73.1%). Participants scored 42.37±8.97 on the Health Perception Scale and 93.86±13.68 on the Substance Addiction Awareness Scale. Marital status, education, and occupation significantly influenced health perception, with married individuals and higher-educated groups demonstrating stronger health control and awareness. Cleaning personnel scored lower in health perception sub-factors compared to other occupations. No significant differences were found in addiction awareness across demographics. A moderate positive correlation existed between health perception and addiction awareness, highlighting their interconnectedness. Conclusions: The study highlights the interconnectedness of health perception and substance addiction awareness, emphasizing the influence of marital status, education, and occupation on health perception while demonstrating consistent addiction awareness across demographics, underscoring the effectiveness of broad public health initiatives.