Practice of self-medication among 2nd year medical and dental students

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONSelf-medication is the treatment of common health problems with medicines especially designed and labeled for use without medical supervision and approved as safe and effective for such use.1 Self-medication consists of the use of manufactured or home-made drugs without a medical prescription seeking to treat symptoms or selfdiagnosed health conditions. 2Medicines for selfmedication are often called 'non-prescription' or 'over the counter' (OTC) drug.Self-medication is now increasingly being considered as a component of self-care. 3 The prevalence rates are high all over the world; up to 68% in European countries, while much higher in the developing countries 31% in India, 59% in Nepal, in Pakistan around 51%. 4 Studies revealed that there is an increase in trends of selfmedications particularly among the youth. Selfmedication is the selection and use of medicines by individuals to treat self-recognized illnesses or symptoms.WHO gives importance responsible self-medication, where individuals treat their ailments and conditions with medicines which are approved and available without a prescription, and which are safe and effective when used as directed. Responsible self-medication requires that, (a) Medicines used are of proven safety, quality and efficacy, (b) medicines used are indicated for conditions that are self-recognizable and for some chronic or recurrent conditions (following initial medical diagnosis). 5A cross sectional study done by Nitish Kumar el al, showed that out of 220 medical students included in the study, the prevalence of self-medication was 78.6% and ABSTRACT Background: Self-medication is the use of medicines by individuals to treat self-recognized symptoms and illness. It assumes a special significance among medical students as they are the future medical practitioners. Main purpose of this study was to determine the pattern of self-medication among 2nd year medical and dental students and to evaluate the factors associated with selfmedication. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of self-developed, pretested questionnaire related to various aspects of self-medication. Study population which consists of 2 nd year medical and dental students. Data was analyzed using MS-Excel and the results were expressed as frequency and percentages. Results: A total of 180 students were assessed regarding their practice about self-medication, of which 37.7 % (n=68) were males and 73.3 % (n=132) were females. The mean age of the respondents was 19-21years. Among the participants particing self-medication, majority (n=89, 49 %) followed allopathic system of medicine, followed by Homeopathic (n=39,22%) and ayurvedic system of medicine (n= 51, 28 %). Conclusions: Out of 180 respondents, the prevalence of self-medication among the study participants was 43.3% (n=78). Self-medication was proportionately more practiced by dental students. The preference pattern for self-medication was allopathy (49%), ayurveda (28%), and homeopathy (23%). 67% of the students were of the opinion that there was ...

Prevalence, knowledge, attitude and practice regarding self-medication among medical, dental and paramedical students in a tertiary care hospital

“…This result was similar to previous findings. 19 Family members were common source of information in all groups. This is contradictory to another study which has mentioned the 'old prescription' as common source of drug infomration.…”