Authors : Alok Dixit, Vinodhini R Mudaliyar, Arjun Adiyodi, Asha Pathak, Chandra Veer Singh
DOI : 10.18231/j.ijpp.2020.005
Volume : 7
Issue : 1
Year : 2020
Page No : 19-25
Objective: Self medication is use of medicine to treat self recognized symptoms, a very common practice among students in India. Lack of skill in selecting OTC medicines and habituation may lead to inappropriate self medication. This study was aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, practice and perception of self medication and identify the frequently used drugs for self medication among university students.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire based study, comprising of open and close ended questions was conducted during July- August 2019 among undergraduate university students of Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences, Saifai. 75 students from medical and 75 students from paramedical streams selected randomly were asked to fill the information regarding self medication in past six months.
Results: 80% (n=60) of students from paramedical and 93.3% (n=70) from medical stream have practised self medication. Among them, 80% and 44.3% of students also consumed medicines other than allopathy in each group respectively. NSAIDs are most commonly used drug class in both the groups and 13.85% students experienced adverse effects. There were significant differences among two groups in terms of awareness about antibiotics, antibiotic resistance, drug interactions and adverse drug reactions.
Conclusion: Self medication is a frequent practice among university students. Misbelieves, ignorance and lack of knowledge regarding antibiotic resistance and adverse drug reactions are major concern among students practicing self medication. There is need to augment awareness for judicious and rational use of medicine among students.
Keywords: Self medication, Antibiotics, University students, Over the counter drugs, Adverse effects.