A study on knowledge and practices of over the counter medications among 1st year medical students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20184864Keywords:
Medical undergraduates, knowledge, Over the counter drug, Self-medication, PracticeAbstract
Background: Self-medication is widely practiced worldwide and often considered as a component of self-care. Selfmedication assumes a special significance among the medical students as they are the future medical practitioners and have a potential role in counselling the patients about the advantages and disadvantages of self-medication. Self-medication assumes a special significance among the medical students as they are the future medical practitioners. Medical students also differ from the general population because they are well-exposed to the knowledge about diseases and drugs. Therefore the present study was taken up to assess the extent of knowledge and practices of over the counter (OTC) drugs among the first year medical students in a tertiary care teaching hospital.
Methods: A descriptive, cross sectional, non-interventional, observational study was conducted from November 2017 to January 2018 among 246 first year medical students. The data analyzed using descriptive statistics with percentages and averages using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS).
Results: In the present study, it was found that 86% students practiced self-medication. Most common conditions for taking self-medication with OTC was fever (89%) followed by cough and cold (75%). 15% of them experienced adverse reactions on OTC self-medicated drugs. The main source of information during self-medication was reading material (56.3%) followed by advice from seniors/pharmacist (43.7%).
Conclusions: Self-medication is widely practiced among undergraduate medical students. In this situation, we should educate the students about advantages and disadvantages of self-medication of over the counter drugs.
Metrics
References
Sharma D, Gurung D, Kafle R, Singh S. Knowledge and practice on over-the-counter drugs among adults of age group 20 and above residing in Chapapani-12, Pokhara, Kaski, Nepal. Int J Sci Rep. 2017;3(3):79-86.
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. World J Pharma Pharmaceu Sci. 2015;4(7).
Kumari R, Kiran, Kumar D, Bahl R, Gupta R. Study of Knowledge and Practices of Self-medication among Medical Students at Jammu. J Med Scien. 2012;15(2):141-4.
Gyawali S, Shankar PR, Poudel PP, Saha A. Knowledge, attitude and practice of self-medication among basic science undergraduate medical students in a medical school in western Nepal. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research: JCDR. 2015 Dec;9(12):FC17.
Manohar HD, Manohar HL. Impact of Knowledge and Attitude on Practices of Over the counter medications. IEOM Soc. 2015;10-11:775-84.
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. World J Pharma Pharmaceu Sci. 2015;4(7):1074-81. 11.
Banerjee I, Bhadury T. Self-medication practice among undergraduate medical students in a tertiary care medical college, West Bengal. J Postgrad Med. 2012;58:127-31.
Kuku K. Attitude and Practices towards Self Medication among residents of Ikeja, Lagos residents(dissertation). Available at: http://www. academia.edu/4161319/Attitude_and_Practices_tow ards_Self_Medication_among_residents_of_Ikeja_L agos_residents
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. World J Pharma Pharmaceu Sci. 2015;4(7):1074-81.
Hsiao F, Jen-Ai L, Weng-Foung H. Survey of medication knowledge and behaviours among college students in Taiwan. Am J Pharmaceutical Edu. 2006;70(2):30.
Kasabe GH, Tiwari SA, Ghongane BB. A survey of knowledge, attitude and practices of self-medication in Pune region. Int J Med Res Health Sci. 2015;4(4):811-6.
Babatunde OA, Fadare JO, Ojo OJ, Durowade KA, Atoyebi OA, Ajayi PO, et al. Self-medication among health workers in a tertiary institution in South-West Nigeria. The Pan African Med J. 2016;24:312-18.