EVALUATION OF THE KNOWLEDGE , ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF SELFMEDICATION AMONG B . Sc NURSING STUDENTS

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:This study was undertaken to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice of self-medication among nursing students of the NRIIMS, Visakhapatnam. MATERIALS & METHODS:This was an anonymous, questionnaire-based, descriptive study. A prevalidated questionnaire, containing open-ended and close-ended questions, was administered to the subjects. Data were analyzed using MS-Excel and the results were expressed as counts and percentages. RESULTS: Out of the 140 respondents, everyone responded with one or the other drug. The respondents' knowledge about appropriate self-medication was poor, but knowledge of the benefits and risks of self-medication was adequate. The respondents found self-medication to be time-saving, economical, convenient and providing quick relief in common illnesses. Important disadvantages of self-medication mentioned were the risk of making a wrong diagnosis, inappropriate drug use and adverse effects. The majority (42%) of the respondents had a positive attitude favoring selfmedication. The most common indications for self-medication were to relieve the symptoms of headache (36.43%), fever (34.02), cough & cold (21.42%). Analgesics (37.14%) were the most common drugs used for self-medication. Knowledge about appropriate self-medication was adequate, attitude towards self-medication was positive, and the practice of self-medication was common and often inappropriate.