Self-medication practices of over the counter analgesics among first and third semester undergraduate medical students in a tertiary care medical college, Jharkhand

Authors

  • Kusum Kumari Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
  • Manju Gari Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
  • Mary Sunita Toppo Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
  • Ira Anupama Soreng Department of Physiology, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
  • Priyanki . Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20195266

Keywords:

Self-medication practices, Medical students, Analgesics, Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, Indian population

Abstract

Background: Self-medication is a widely practiced trend in the general Indian population. Among the medical students, self- medication is popular because of awareness about the disease and their treatment. Analgesics are one of the most common drugs used for self-medication. Very few studies are available in Jharkhand regarding this subject. So, the present study aims to delve into the pattern of self-medication practices of analgesics among the 1st and 3rd semester medical students of RIMS, Ranchi, Jharkhand.

Methods: A questionnaire based cross sectional study was done in RIMS, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India in March-April 2019 among the undergraduate medical students. The results were expressed as percentage and frequency.

Results: Out of total 150 and 142 students in the 1st and 3rd semester respectively, 140 and 130 students practiced self- medication.  Advice from seniors was the biggest source of information in both the groups followed by internet and books. Paracetamol was the most common drug (75%; 60%) and headache was the most common indication (55%; 68%). Quick relief of symptoms was the most common reason for self-medication in both the groups (44%; 48%).

Conclusions: In both the groups, the students continued the drug even after experiencing side effects (77%; 60%). Most students were of the view that such practice is not acceptable at all times (75%; 72%).

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Published

2019-11-25

How to Cite

Kumari, K., Gari, M., Toppo, M. S., Soreng, I. A., & ., P. (2019). Self-medication practices of over the counter analgesics among first and third semester undergraduate medical students in a tertiary care medical college, Jharkhand. International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, 8(12), 2614–2619. https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20195266

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Original Research Articles