ASSESSMENT OF MAGNITUDE OF SELF-MEDICATION PRACTICES AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG UNDER GRADUATE MEDICAL STUDENTS IN SPHMMC

Abstract

Abstract Background Self-medication is defined as “obtaining and consuming drugs without the advice of a physician either for diagnosis, prescription or surveillance of treatment [1]. It’s a common practice worldwide and the irrational use of the drugs is a major cause of concern. Self medication is an issue with serious global implication. It assumes a special significance among medical students as they are expected to have knowledge about diseases and drugs. There is no current data available regarding the self-medication practice among undergraduate medical students and there is no data available on the self-medication practice among undergraduate medical students in SPHMMC which this research aims to generate. Objective: To assess the magnitude of self-medication practices and associated factors among under graduate medical students in SPHMMC Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study in which the study population consisted of randomly selected regular undergraduate medical students of SPHMMC was conducted. This study was conducted from March 30 to April 15 2017. A total of 279 students were taken. Simple random sampling technique was used and a pretested self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data and it was analyzed using spss version 20 for counts and percentages. Results- Among 270 students approximately 58.5% practiced self-medication. Headache 52(19.3%) followed by cough and common cold (8.5%), dyspepsia (8.1%), dysmenorrhea (6.3%), were disease conditions for which they self-medicated. The classes of drugs that were commonly used for self-medication were analgesics (27.8%), antibiotics (11.5%) and anta acids (6.7%). The reasons for SM were quick relief 59(21.9%), prior experience 51 (18.9%) and mildness of the illness 32 (11.9%).The major sources of the drugs used for self-medication were the pharmacies 87 (40%), friends/relatives 55 (20.4 %), leftover drugs from previous prescriptions 14(5.2%) and kiosks 2(07%).Information about drugs were through self-decision 75(27.6%), family and friends 30(11.1%) and reading material 30(11.1%). Conclusion –self-medication is practiced by a majority of undergraduate medical students. Since using drugs without prescription inappropriately can cause serious harm, not only to students themselves but also to those whom they suggest medication. Restriction of sale of drugs with potentially harmful effects should be implemented effectively with monitoring systems between the physicians and pharmacist