Prevalence of Self-Medication Among Female University Students During Examinations: A Cross-Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

IntroductionThose who practice self-care using over-the-counter (OTC) products believe that these medications are relatively safe. They can be used to treat mild illnesses that do not require medical consultation. However, improper self-medication using OTC medicines because of inadequate knowledge of their side effects and interactions can result in drug-related issues and even death. The current study was performed using the foundation year students of Princess Nourah Bint Abdul Rahman University (PNU) as subjects, to examine the use of OTC medicines during examination times. MethodsThis cross-sectional study was done on 213 (response rates 87.7%) foundation-year female students in the Health Colleges at PNU in Riyadh. Using a 26-item, self-administered, online questionnaire, data were collected. ResultsIt was found that more than 50% of the students used OTC medicines habitually during exam periods. A majority (90.6%; p< 0.0001) of the students mentioned that the overuse of Panadol Extra was very safe while 67.6% (p< 0.0001) of them declared that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) would not induce stomach ulcer formation. A higher percentage (67.6%; p<0.0001) of the students confirmed using OTC medicines during exam time for headache relief. A higher percentage (72.8%; p< 0.0001) of the students indicated that because the OTC medications were readily available and they believed these drugs were safe, they used sizable quantities during the time of the examinations. Furthermore, 69% (p< 0.0001) of the students confessed that because of a friend's recommendations, they started trying OTC medicine. Above 67% (p< 0.0001) stated that OTC medications are inexpensive and easily available in Saudi Arabia. ConclusionTo conclude, the findings of this study reiterated the high usage of OTC medicines by female students during the time of examination, and the highest used were painkillers.

The Use of Over-The-Counter Drugs and Its Health Implications in Awka South LGA, Anambra State, Nigeria

“…The study equally found that OTC drugs are generally cheap and affordable. This finding aligns with Alomaim et al, [19] whose study found that OTC drugs are generally cheap.…”

Development and psychometric properties of a self-medication behavior inventory

“…As noted above, self-medication behavior, despite its potential benefits, has highly relevant risks (Hughes et al, 2001;Kretchy et al, 2021;Chiniard et al, 2023) and a high prevalence (Alhomoud et al, 2017;Alomaim et al, 2023). Despite this, explanations for such behavior are insufficient, as empirical approaches to its assessment are scarce.…”