Self-Medication Among Undergraduate Students

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the frequency of self-medication among undergraduate students of medical sciences Study design and setting: Cross-sectional Study was conducted at Al-Tibri Medical College Hospital, from October 2019 to February 2020. Methodology: Data was collected after an ethical approval of concerned institute; total of 150 students included from the 1st, 3rd and final year of MBBS. Valid questionnaire was used to evaluate the response of the participants regarding selfmedication. Verbal consent was taken from the students, and then they were asked to fill their responses. Data was evaluated in the form of frequency and percentages through SPSS version 21.0. Chi-square test was applied, and the level of significance was considered p=<0.05 Results: Out of total of 150 students, 58.7% were males and 41.3% females. In students of 1st, 3rd and 5th year the most common morbidity for seeking self-medication was headache, flu/cough, fever, and pain. The percentage of drug/ drug groups commonly used for self-medication included antipyretics being 36%, 54% and 64%, antibiotics were 50%, 86% and 90%, and analgesics was 42%, 62% and 64% in 1st, 3rd and 5th years respectively. Common reasons for pursuing selfmedication were minor illnesses (50%, 81%, 94%), easy availability (52%, 82%, 92%) and quick-relief (50%, 58%, 100%) in 1st, 3rd and 5th year respectively. Conclusion: In the present study, self-medication was observed in a large percentage of students. Thus, medical curricula need further consideration to promote awareness regarding the disadvantages of self-medication in undergraduates so we can curb this self-medication culture from our society