Comparative assessment of antibiotic self-medication practices among under-graduate medical students and general population

Abstract

Background: Self-medication with antibiotics is a global problem and increases the risk of antibiotic resistance which impacts morbidity and mortality.Methods: A total of 180 Medical students and the same number of people from general population were given a pre-validated questionnaire. The total respondents were 168 among general population and 173 among medical students. Results: 21.42% respondents from general population and 82.08% medical students practiced antibiotic self-medication. 66.66% respondents from general population practiced antibiotic self- medication to save time and money. 57.04% medical students had previous experience of treating similar symptoms.83.33% respondents from general population and 89.43% medical students used antibiotics to treat fever, cough, cold, sore throat and similar symptoms. 50.00% respondents from general population consulted the chemist/pharmacist before using the antibiotics.38.02% students consulted their textbooks for drug information. Only 16.66% respondents from general population and 24.64% students continued the antibiotics till full recovery.Conclusions: Antibiotic self- medication is more prevalent among medical students as compared to general population. Medical students need to be targeted repeatedly during their education and be taught the value of using antibiotics with caution. Public awareness and strict enforcement of law to control the sale of antibiotics without a valid prescription are needed to minimize antibiotic self- medication and associated risks.

A Population based Study on Self Medication Practice in Pakistan

“…This study includes three geographical areas (3 states of Pakistan include Punjab, Sindh and Azad Kashmir). The prevalence of self -medication of OTC and other prescription drugs in our study was found to be 88% which is less than those studies conducted in Saudi Arabia 98.7% [4] Lahore 95% [5], Yemen 93% [6], Eritrea 93.7% [7] and higher then that Germany 27.7% [8], India Rajpur Punjab 80% [9], Turkey 19.1% [10], Cyprus 30.7% [11], Malaysia 80.9% [12], Cameroon 73.8% [13], Nepal 48.2% [14], Iraq 84.8% [15], Peshawar 64.8% [16], Vietnam 83.3% [17]. The commonly used OTC and other prescription drugs are Paracetamol 77.5%, Multivitamin 38.9% and Omeprazole 36.4%.…”

Self-Medication Practices During Covid-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey

“…Self-medication is the use of medicinal products by individuals to treat self-identified diseases or symptoms. It also involves the intermittent or continuous use of medication prescribed by a physician to address chronic or recurrent illness or symptoms, obtaining medications without a prescription or resubmitting outdated prescriptions to obtain medications, sharing medications with family or friends, or consuming leftover medication, or failing to follow a professional prescription, either by prolonging or interrupting it too soon, or decreasing or raising the originally intended dose [1].…”