Knowledge, attitudes and practice of self-medication among university students in Portugal: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Aims: To describe the knowledge, attitudes and practices of self-medication in college students and to analyse the predicting factors for the engagement in that behaviour. Design: This is a cross-sectional study involving students ( n = 840) from a Portuguese university, selected through stratified and proportional sampling. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire containing, in addition to sociodemographic issues, a scale measuring knowledge about self-medication (α = .488), a scale measuring attitudes towards self-medication (α = .708) and questions about the patterns of self-medication practices (α = .445). Differences between outcomes and sociodemographics were analysed through independent t-tests and ANOVA. A generalised linear model was calculated to determine the predictive variables of self-medication. Results: Over half of the respondents ( 54.3%, n = 434) had used some form of self-medication during the preceding year. Students revealed poor knowledge about the referred practice, correctly answering 1.60 ( SD = 0.936) questions in a total of 3, and favourable attitudes towards self-medication ( M = 2.17, SD = 0.950, range 1–5). Attending engineering sciences (β = .718, 95% CI: 1.373–3.069, p < .001), being female (β = .866, 95% CI: 1.700–3.327, p < .001) and having negative attitudes towards self-medication (β = .367, 95% CI: 1.227–1.698, p < .001) predict the adoption of those practices. Conclusions: Self-medication is a common practice among university students, the level of self-medication knowledge is low and the low score of the level of attitudes revealed that students tended to have a correct positioning towards self-medication. Therefore, the recommendation to develop campaigns or educational programmes becomes obvious, in order to inform about the adverse effects of the use of non-prescribed medicine.

Knowledge, Attitude, Practices and Viewpoints of Undergraduate University Students towards Self-Medication: An Institution-Based Study in Riyadh

“…The most common type of medication preferred for self-use was antipyretic (37.7%), multivitamins (36.4%), antihistamines (18.6%), and anti-inflammatories (17.3%). Similar findings were reported in a study conducted on students of a Portuguese University [17], and studies within Saudi Arabia [9,12]. The reasons mentioned by our students for opting for medication for self-care were minor illness (62%), previous experience (33.2%), and lack of time to attend the health care facility (23.7%).…”

“…Various national [9,10] (Mustafa and Rohra [11]; Sultan MA et al [12]; Mustafa SS et al [13]) and international (Marwa AF et al [14]; Lukovic et al [15]; Helal RM and Abou-El Wafa HS [16]; Regina FA et al [17]) studies have focused on SM behavior among college and university students, recognizing surge and widespread practice in this specific category, identifying key factors such as socio-demographic settings, lifestyle, easy accessibility and availability of medications, good knowledge, advertisement, and high level of education [18].…”

Health On You programme: Development and implementation of web-based health education intervention for university students

“…Stage 2: epidemiologic, behavioural and environmental diagnosis. Environmental and behavioural factors were explored in this stage, which focused on an analysis of risk behaviours for students' health (Alves et al, 2021a(Alves et al, , 2021b(Alves et al, , 2021c(Alves et al, , 2021d(Alves et al, , 2022Alves and Precioso, 2020) and identified the environmental factors on campus that might negatively affect the students' health, such as vending machines selling high-calorie food and nearby restaurants offering unbalanced meals, coffee shops and bars selling alcoholic drinks, and tobacco sales in kiosks. Health-related services on campus were also identified, including areas for physical activity and a canteen with meals carefully planned by a nutritionist.…”

The Survey on Adolescents' Cognition, Attitude, and Behavior of Using Analgesics: Take Sichuan and Chongqing as an Example

“…(4) In terms of proper use of analgesics, students who have taken analgesics prescribed by doctors, those who have taken analgesics provided by family members or friends, those who have used methods other than drugs, those who have handled pain information from family members, medical professionals, those who often read the label of analgesics, and those who have taken anti-inflammatory analgesics have an obvious preference for proper use of analgesics. (5) In terms of the quality of proper use of analgesics, the students who have taken analgesics prescribed by doctors, those who have taken analgesics provided by family members/friends, those who have used healthy food/herbal medicine, and other methods other than drugs, those whose information on pain management comes from family members, medical professionals and students who often read the label of analgesics, and those who have taken antiinflammatory analgesics, their quality of using analgesics is significantly higher.…”