The pattern of self-medication practice among undergraduate medical students of tertiary care hospital, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

Background: According to World Health Organization resources, Selfmedication is selection and use of drugs to treat self-diagnosed disorders or symptoms which includes the usage of non-prescription drugs. It is widely seen among undergraduate students especially in developing countries like India. Our objective of the study is to know the pattern of self-medication practice among undergraduate medicos in medical college attached to tertiary care hospital. Methods: This is a Prospective, cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study conducted among 184 medical students of 5 th Semester in pharmacology lecture gallery, Guntur Medical College and Hospital, A.P. India. Among 200 students of 5th semester, 184 students gave the written consent for the study and submitted the given questionnaire. Fourteen questionnaires were incomplete and so the remaining 170 were analysed. Results: Results showed that 126 (74%) respondents practiced self-medication. The main health issues for seeking self-medication were found to be upper respiratory tract infection as reported by 39 students (31%) followed by diarrhea (32 students) (25%), fever (23 students) (18%). Drugs commonly used were analgesics (32%) followed by antibiotics (24%). The reasons for practicing selfmedication were mild illness for 66 students (52%) and time-saving for 35 students (28%). Conclusions: Though the self-medication practice is inevitable, drug authorities and health professionals need to educate students about the pros and cons of practicing self-medication.

Self-Medication Prevalence and Factors Associated with Knowledge and Attitude Towards Self-Medication Among Undergraduate Health Science Students at GAMBY Medical and Business College, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

“…This result is consistent with other similar studies of health science students in Ethiopian higher educational institutions such as Arsi University, 33 University of Gondar, 37,68 Private Health Science Colleges in Gondar, 69 and Mekelle University. 70 There are also confirming reports from Bahrain, 22 Eritrea, 39 Saudi Arabia, 71 and India 30,53,62 on the frequently used SM groups and perceived disease conditions. Similarly, analgesics and antibiotics were the two foremost self-medicated drugs in Nigerian students, 72 whereas non-steroidal analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic drugs were the most frequently used OTC drugs for self-treating fever and headaches in Nepal.…”

“…This is nearly similar with the investigation in India, where 52.9% of undergraduate health science students in a tertiary care hospital confidently prescribed medicines on their own to themselves, their friends, and family members. 62 The belief of self-diagnosis and self-treatment is not limited only to the developing countries, but it is also prevalent in developed western regions with various degrees of prevalence. Earlier study reports revealed that 39.2% of the health science students in the United Kingdom 45 and about 22% of health students in the USA 44 agreed on the appropriateness of self-prescribing.…”