Evaluation of analgesic self-medication pattern among under-graduate medical students of Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, BG Nagar, Karnataka: a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONIn the developing countries, 60-80% of health problems are due to self-medication 1 and the drugs are dispensed over the counter without medical supervision.2 There is an increase in the trend for self-care which resulted in self-medication with powerful drugs including drug combinations.3 People resort to self-medication since it's a lower cost alternative for people who cannot afford the cost of clinical service. Studies have revealed that the increase in self-medication was due to a number of factors. These included socioeconomic factors, lifestyle, ready access to drugs, the increased potential to manage certain illnesses through self-care, and greater availability of medicinal products. 2Analgesic self-medication is widely prevalent among undergraduate medical students. A study conducted at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi observed that self-medication was considerably high among undergraduate medical and paramedical students in India and it increased with medical knowledge. 4 Pain problems are important reasons for self-medication of analgesics. One of the most common complaints for the use of analgesic self-medication is headache. Around 25% ABSTRACT Background: Self-medication with analgesics is widely practiced among medical students. Self-medication is defined as "the selection and use of medicines by individuals to treat self-recognized illnesses or symptoms." It assumes a special significance among the undergraduate medical students as they are aware of the available analgesic medications. Our study would evaluate the pattern of analgesic self-medication among undergraduate medical students of Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), BG Nagar. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was done from January to March 2014 among undergraduate medical students, AIMS, BG Nagar. 218 students consented for the study out of 250 students and filled in the questionnaire. 20 incomplete questionnaires were excluded and the remaining 198 were analyzed. Results: Our study showed that 63.6% of the students practiced analgesic selfmedication. 68.2% sought self-medication for headache followed by body pain (9.7%), low backache (5.1%), fever (4.5%) and joint pain (3.8%). Paracetamol was used by 47.2%, diclofenac by 20.5%, ibuprofen by 7.5%, aspirin by 6.8%, and aceclofenac by 4.1%. Self-medication was based on the use of previous prescriptions in 42.1% of the students and textbook knowledge in 39.1% of the students. 26.4% students complained that pain reduced concentration in studies. 61.6% students stated the mild nature of illness as the reason for self-medication. 91.9% of the students felt that self-medication is a part of self-care. 61.2% of the students were aware of the side-effects of the analgesic medications. Conclusion: Our study shows that self-medication with analgesics is high among the undergraduate medical students of this institute. Although it is an easy way to treat mild to moderate pain, it may be accompanied with side effects, drug interac...

A cross sectional questionnaire based study on self medication practice of analgesics among MBBS students at Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Medical College, Bengaluru, Karnataka

“…In present study, the prevalence of self medication with analgesics was found to be 83.3% while in studies done by Badiger et al, Shivamurthy et al, Al Essa et al, found prevalence of analgesic self medication to be 92%, 63.6% and 73.2% respectively. 4,8,9 Present study thus supports earlier studies with similar results signifying increasing self medication practice among medical students.…”

“…The most common reason for self medication in our study was quick relief (73.3%) which is similar to study done by Gupta V et al, and prior experience of illness (38.3%) reported in present study was also reported from studies done in Zafar et al and Abay et al [11][12][13] Time saving was the reason for self medication with analgesics in the study done by Shivamurthy S et al which is different from present study. 8 In present study, most common source of drug information was from medical textbooks (61.6%) which is similar to studies done by Badiger et al and Abay SM et this study was also reported by Shivamurthy et al 8 The participants thus indulged in self medication practice owing to their self-assumed sufficient pharmacological knowledge.…”

“…In the present study, 44.4% of the participants think that self medication with analgesics is a part of self care while it was higher 91.97% in a study reported by Shivamurthy et al 8 In present study students agreed that Medical license is required for better administration of drugs (51.3%).…”

“…In present study, self medication with analgesics was used for headache (59.7%) and Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (90%) were the commonly used drugs which is similar to studies done by Shivamurthy et al, Al Essa et al, where headache (68.2% and 92% respectively) was the most common indication and NSAID paracetamol (47%, 96.5%) was most commonly used analgesic. 8,9 This practice of self medication with analgesics for minor illness is common as they believed that no other medical intervention is required. This trend of analgesic self-use could mask the actual diagnosis of the underlying disease.…”

A comparative study of knowledge, attitude and practice of self-medication among medical and para medical students in a medical college, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India

“…In the present study, the prevalence of self-medication was 100% unlike other studies were the prevalence ranged from 57.1% to 92%. [9][10][11] In a study conducted by Abay et. al 55.6% of students agree with the concept of selfmedication whereas in the present study, 47.3% of the students agree.…”