Volume 5, Issue 3 ( Journal of Clinical and Basic Research (JCBR) 2021)
jcbr 2021, 5(3): 1-8 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Kanyari S S, Panda S. Perceptions and Practice of Self-Medication among Undergraduate Medical Students of a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in South India. jcbr 2021; 5 (3) :1-8
URL: http://jcbr.goums.ac.ir/article-1-329-en.html
URL: http://jcbr.goums.ac.ir/article-1-329-en.html
1- Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences , purnima.ssk@gmail.com
2- Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences
2- Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences
Abstract: (2220 Views)
Background and objectives: Self-medication is a common practice worldwide and medical students are at higher risk of self-medication because of early exposure and access to drugs and related information. The objective of this study was to assess the practice and perceptions of self-medication among medical students.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data were collected using a questionnaire from undergraduate medical students at the Maharajah’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Vizianagaram, India, during November-December 2019. The subjects were selected via convenience sampling. The data were analyzed using the SPSS (version 21) and chi-square test. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The prevalence of self-medication among 440 students was found to be 83%. Self-medication was more common among female students (85.8%) as compared to male counterparts (80.9%) (p>0.05). The majority of students (73.4%) cited mild nature of illness as the factor responsible for self-medication. Fever was the most common indication for self-medication accounting for 81.4% cases, and antipyretics was the most commonly (74.8%) used drug category. Moreover, 48.9% of the participants opined that self-medication is part of self-care and needs to be encouraged.
Conclusion: Self-medication is widely practiced among undergraduate medical students. Therefore, there is an urgent need to educate them regarding the dangers of irrational drug use along with the implementation of stringent regulations regarding the sale of drugs without a valid prescription.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data were collected using a questionnaire from undergraduate medical students at the Maharajah’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Vizianagaram, India, during November-December 2019. The subjects were selected via convenience sampling. The data were analyzed using the SPSS (version 21) and chi-square test. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The prevalence of self-medication among 440 students was found to be 83%. Self-medication was more common among female students (85.8%) as compared to male counterparts (80.9%) (p>0.05). The majority of students (73.4%) cited mild nature of illness as the factor responsible for self-medication. Fever was the most common indication for self-medication accounting for 81.4% cases, and antipyretics was the most commonly (74.8%) used drug category. Moreover, 48.9% of the participants opined that self-medication is part of self-care and needs to be encouraged.
Conclusion: Self-medication is widely practiced among undergraduate medical students. Therefore, there is an urgent need to educate them regarding the dangers of irrational drug use along with the implementation of stringent regulations regarding the sale of drugs without a valid prescription.
Article Type: Research |
Subject:
Statistics and epidemiology
References
1. World Health Organization. (2000). Guidelines for the regulatory assessment of medicinal products for use in self-medication. World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/66154
2. Loyola Filho Antônio I. de, Lima-Costa Maria Fernanda, Uchôa Elizabeth. Bambuí Project: a qualitative approach to self-medication. Cad. Saúde Pública; 20(6): 1661-1669. [View at Publisher] [DOI] [PMID] [Google Scholar]
3. Walia JK. Over the Counter Sale of Drugs - How to Curb this Practice? India Medical Times. 2012. Available from: http://www.indiamedicaltimes.com/2012/11/13/overthe-counter-sale-of-drugshow-to-curb-this-practice/
4. Kumarasamy KK, Toleman MA, Walsh TR, Bagaria J, Butt F, Balakrishnan R, et al. Emergence of a new antibiotic resistance mechanism in India, Pakistan, and the UK: A molecular, biological, and epidemiological study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2010; 10: 597-602. [View at Publisher] [DOI] [Google Scholar]
5. Ruiz ME. Risks of self-medication practices. Curr Drug Saf. 2010; 5: 315-23. [View at Publisher] [DOI] [PMID] [Google Scholar]
6. Klemenc-Ketis Z, Hladnik Z, Kersnik J .A cross sectional study of sex differences in self- medication practices among university students in Slovenia. Coll Antropol .2011;35(2):329-34. [View at Publisher] [Google Scholar]
7. Montgomery AJ, Bradley C, Rochfort A, Panagopoulou E. A review of self-medication in physicians and medical students. Occup Med (Lond) 2011; 61: 490-7. [View at Publisher] [DOI] [PMID] [Google Scholar]
8. Self-medication popular among medical students: AIIMS study. Available: http://www.livemint.com/Politics/XcN44QD5g8aW4dwltcUdtI/Selfmedicationpopular-among-medical-students-AIIMS-study.html.
9. Banerjee I, Bhadury T . Self-medication practice among undergraduate medical students in a tertiary care medical college, West Bengal. J Postgrad Med.2012; 58(2):127-131. [View at Publisher] [DOI] [PMID] [Google Scholar]
10. 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(2): 561-564. [View at Publisher] [Google Scholar]
11. Badiger S, Kundapur R, Jain A, Kumar A, Pattanshetty S, et al. Selfmedication patterns among medical students in South India. Australas Med J .2012;5(4):217-220. [View at Publisher] [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID] [Google Scholar]
12. Abay SM, Amelo W. Assessment of Self-Medication Practices Among Medical, Pharmacy, and Health Science Students in Gondar University, Ethiopia. J Young Pharm. 2010; 2: 306-10. [View at Publisher] [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID] [Google Scholar]
13. El Ezz NF, Ez-Elarab HS. Knowledge, attitude and practice of medical students towards self-medication at Ain Shams University, Egypt. J Prev Med Hyg. 2011; 52(4):196-200. [View at Publisher] [Google Scholar]
14. Fadare JO, Tamuno I . Antibiotic self-medication among university medical undergraduates in Northern Nigeria.J Public Health Epidemiol.2011; 3(5): 217-220. [View at Publisher] [Google Scholar]
15. Ali SE, Ibrahim MI, Palaian S. Medication storage and self-medication behaviour amongst female students in Malaysia. Pharmacy Practice. 2010 Dec 20;8(4):226-32. [View at Publisher] [Google Scholar]
16. 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 Pharmaceutical Clin Res.2010; 3(1) 60-64. [View at Publisher] [Google Scholar]
17. Gupta V, Bansal P, Manhas R, Singh Z, Ghaiye P. Preferred system of medicine and reasons of self-medication among college students in Malwa region of Punjab. J Drug Deliv and Ther.2011; 1(2):27-29. [View at Publisher] [DOI] [Google Scholar]
18. Kumar N, Kanchan T, Unnikrishnan B, Rekha T, Mithra P, Kulkarni V, et al. Perceptions and practices of self-medication among medical tudents in coastal south india. PLoS ONE. 2013; 8 (8): e72247. [View at Publisher] [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID] [Google Scholar]
19. Girish HO, Divya HM, Prabhakaran S, Venugopalan PP, Koppad R, Acharya A. A cross-sectional study on self-medication pattern among medical students at Kannur, North Kerala. J Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences. 2013; 2(45): 8693-701. [View at Publisher] [DOI] [Google Scholar]
20. Margdari NM., Kazemi SB, Kord F, Khosravi M, Sanagoo A, Jouybari L. The prevalence of non-prescription drugs and related factors in students of medical sciences in 1392. Iran journal of nursing (IJN). 2017; 29(104): 66-74. [View at Publisher] [DOI] [Google Scholar]
21. Kayalvizhi S, Senapathi R .Evaluation of the perception, attitude and practice of self-medication among business students in 3 select cities, South India. IJEIMS.2010;1(3):40-44. [Google Scholar]
22. Gutema GB, Gadisa DA, Kidanemariam ZA, Berhe DF, BerheAH, et al. Self-Medication Practices among Health Sciences Students: The Case of Mekelle University. J Appl Pharmaceutical Sci.2011;1(10):183-189. [View at Publisher] [Google Scholar]
23. Zafar SN, Syed R, Waqar S, Irani FA, Saleem S. Prescription of medicines by medical students of Karachi, Pakistan: A cross-sectional study. BMC public health. 2008 Dec;8(1):1-7. [View at Publisher] [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID] [Google Scholar]
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0).