Comparison of awareness, attitude and use of non-prescription drugs among medical and non-medical undergraduates: a questionnaire based study

Authors

  • Deepika Tikoo Department of Pharmacology, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences &Research, Vallah, Amritsar, Punjab, India
  • Meenakshi Gupta Department of Pharmacology, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences &Research, Vallah, Amritsar, Punjab, India
  • Geeta Sharma Department of Pharmacology, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences &Research, Vallah, Amritsar, Punjab, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20160648

Keywords:

Non-prescription drugs, Self-medication, Medical students, Non-medical students

Abstract

Background: The use of non-prescription drugs for self-treatment of common ailments is becoming increasingly popular in our society. Trends in the use of non-prescription drugs is expected to vary among medical students and the general population, as medical students have more knowledge about drugs and an easy access to them. In the present study we have done a comparison regarding the awareness, attitudes and use of over the counter drugs among medical and non-medical undergraduates to evaluate these parameters.

Methods: A total of 139 third year medical students and 101 non-medical students were included in our study. An anonymous, pre-validated questionnaires containing questions about their knowledge, attitude and perception of non-prescription drugs were filled by them. The data collected was compiled and analyzed by frequency analysis and percentages.

Results: Majority of the medical (99.3%) and non-medical students (95.1%) had purchased non-prescription drugs from either a local pharmacy (83.4%, 61.4% medical & non-medical students respectively) or from seniors, friends & family members (18% medical & 18.8% non-medical students). The commonest indication for self-medication in both the groups was cough & cold (80.6% medical & 55.4% non-medical group) followed by fever in medical students (77.7%) and headache in non-medical students (39.6%). Antipyretics (66.9%) in medical students and analgesics (39.6%) in non-medical students were the commonest drug groups used. The medical students preferred to buy brand drugs (47.5%) as compared to generic drugs (26.6%) while the non-medical students had no preference (48.5%) about the form of drugs. About 57.6% medical and 61.4% non-medical students never experienced any side effect with over the counter drugs. Many medical (57.5%) and non-medical (40.6%) students supported the sale of non-prescription drugs for minor ailments.

Conclusions: There is an increasing trend of self-medication among the youth today. Medical students have a better access to such drugs hence are expected to self-medicate more. But the easy availability about drug information on the internet and their unrestricted supply in the pharmacies are escalating the practice of self-medication among the general population too. It therefore becomes imperative to create awareness against the injudicious use of over the counter drugs without a valid medical prescription to promote rational drug use.

References

Tripathi KD. Introduction, routes of administration. In: Tripathi KD. Essentials of Medical Pharmacology. 7th Ed. New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd; 2013:1-9.

Gupta VK, Gupta CD, Patel JR. Assessment of awareness and attitudes towards over the counter (OTC) drugs amongst urban population: a questionnaire based study. Res J Pharm Biol Chem Sci. 2012;3(2):1037-41.

Ghosh A, Biswas S, Mondal K, Haldar M, Biswas S. A study on knowledge and practices of over the counter medications among 2nd year medical students. WJPPS. 2015;4(7):1074-81.

Gutema GB, Gadisa DA, Kidanemariam ZA, Berhe DF, Berhe AH, Hadera MG, Hailu GS, Abrha NG, Yarlagadda R, Dagne AW. Self-medication practices among health sciences students: the case of Mekelle University. J App Pharm Sci. 2011;1(10):183-9.

Patel P, Prajapati A, Ganguly B, Gajjar B. Study on impact of pharmacology teaching on knowledge, attitude and practice on self-medication among medical students. Int J Med Sci Public Health. 2013;2(2):181-6.

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. Intl J Biol Med Res. 2011;2(2):561-4.

Bashir MSM, Bansod KA, Khade A, Konnoju M, Rani U, Vadala KK. Self-medication-a comparative study between 2nd and 3rd year medical students. Int J Basic Appl Med Sc. 2013;3(2):1-7.

Atray M, Kumar R. Self-medication pattern and its comparison amongst medical and non-medical college students of Udaipur, India. IJCRR. 2013;5(1):36-43.

Parakh R, Sharma N, Choudhary V, Parakh KK, Parakh R, Gour P. A comparative study of Self-medication practice among medical and engineering students in a private university in North India. WJPPS. 2014;3(5):933-44.

Syed N, Naseer M, Memon MQ, Rani K. Prevalence of self-medication and its practice among the medical and non-medical students. JLUMHS. 2014;13(2):79-82.

Jagadeesh K, Chidananda KN, Revankar SP, Prasad NS. Study on Self-medication among 2nd year medical students. Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol. 2015;4(1):164-7.

Downloads

Published

2016-12-28

How to Cite

Tikoo, D., Gupta, M., & Sharma, G. (2016). Comparison of awareness, attitude and use of non-prescription drugs among medical and non-medical undergraduates: a questionnaire based study. International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, 5(2), 243–250. https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20160648

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles