The pattern of self-medication practice among undergraduate medical students of tertiary care hospital, Andhra Pradesh, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20175206Keywords:
Questionnaire, Self-medication, Tertiary hospital, Undergraduate studentsAbstract
Background: According to World Health Organization resources, Self-medication 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 5th 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 self-medication 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.
References
WHO guidelines for the regulatory assessment of medical products for use in self-medication. 2000. [Last accessed on 2012]. Available at: http://www.who.int/medicine/library/qsm/whoedm-qsm-2000-l/who-edm-qsm-00_l.htm
Verma RK, Mohan L, Pandey M. Evaluation of self-medication among professional students in North India: Proper statutory drug control must be implemented. Asian J Pharm Clin Res. 2010;3:60-4.
WHO Consultive Group. Report of the 4th. The Role of the Pharmacist in Self-care and Self-medication. 1998. Available at: http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/en/d/Jwhozip32e/
Awad AI, Eltayeb IB. Self-medication practices with antibiotics and antimalarials among Sudanese undergraduate university students. Ann Pharmacother. 2007;41:1249-55.
Hughes CM, McElnay JC, Fleming GF. Benefits and risks of self-medication. Drug Safety. 2001;24(14):1027-37.
Khantzian EJ. The Self-Medication Hypothesis of Substance Use Disorders. A Reconsideration and Recent Applications. 1997;4(5):231-44.
Jaina P, Sachanb A, Singlac RK. Agrawal P. Statistical Study on Self Medication Pattern in Haryana, India. Indo Global Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2012;2(1):21-35.
Zafar SN, Syed R, Waqar S, Zubairi AJ, Vaqar T, Shaikh M. Self-medication amongst University Students of Karachi, Prevalence, Knowledge and Attitudes. J Pak Med Assn. 2008;58:214-7.
Klemenc-Ketis Z, Hladnik Z, Kersnik J. Self-medication among healthcare and non-healthcare students at University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. Med Princ Pract. 2010;19:395-401.
Sontakke SD, Bajait CS, Pimpalkhute SA, Jaiswal KM, Jaiswal SR. Comparative study of evaluation of self-medication practices in first and third year medical students. Int J Biol Med Res. 2011;2:561-4.
James H, Handu SS, Al Khaja KA, Otoom S, Sequeria RP. Evaluation of the knowledge, attitude, and practice of self-medication among first-year medical students. Med Princ Pract. 2006;15:270-5.
Abay SM, Amelo W. Assessment of self-medication practices among medical, pharmacy, and health science students in Gondhar University, Ethiopia. J Young Pharm. 2010;2:306-10.
Fox JM. Use of analgesics in self-medication. Therapie. 2002 Mar-Apr;57(2):115-8.
Gupta YK. Self-medication popular among medical students, AIIMS. Available at: http://www.livemint.com/Politics/XcN44QD5g8aW4dwltcUdtI/Selfmedication-popular-among-medical-students-AIIMS-study.html
Haenen GR, Bast A. The use of vitamin supplements in self-medication. Therapie. 2002 Mar-Apr;57(2):119-22.
Grigoryan L, Monnet DL, Haaijer-Ruskamp FM, Bonten MJ, Lundborg S. Self-medication with antibiotics in Europe. a case for action: Curr Drug Saf. 2010 Oct;5(4):329-32.
Silva IM, Catrib AM, de Matos VC, Gondim AP. Self-medication in adolescence: a challenge to health education. Cien Saude Colet. 2011;16(1):1651-60.
