Toll Free Helpline (India): 1800 1234 070

Rest of World: +91-9810852116

Free Publication Certificate

Vol. 5, Issue 4 (2016)

Self-medication practices among II M.B.B.S medical students in a tertiary care hospital - A cross sectional study

Author(s):
Rama Narayana Reddy RV, Raja TAR, G Senthil, Priyadharshini
Abstract:
Background: Self-medication is defined as the use of drugs to treat self-diagnosed disorders or symptoms, or the intermittent or continued use of a prescribed drug for chronic or recurrent disease or symptoms. Many studies have also found self-medication is common in medical graduates. To this reason we evaluated the use of OTC drugs as self-medication practices among 2nd MBBS medical students in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire based study was conducted at tertiary care hospital, Andhra Pradesh. 100 participants with 2nd year MBBS students were the study group and study was conducted over the period of 3 months between June 2012 to August 2012. Institute Ethical Committee has approved the study protocol. Objectives and procedure of the study was explained to the participants and those who were willing to fill the informed consent form were included in the study. A feedback questionnaire covering various aspects of OTC drugs was distributed among the participants. The information pertaining to the pattern of OTC drugs use, reason and indication for use, list of drugs commonly used for self-medication were also included in the questionnaire. The filled questionnaire feedbacks were retrieved from the participants and analysed. Results were expressed in the form simple percentages. Results: There was 100 students participated in this study, 73 were females and 27 males, all were in the age group of 18 - 22 years. Majority (88 %) of the participants were aware of OTC drugs and 86 % of participants knew the name of some drugs which fall under this category. 38% of the participants use OTC drugs rarely and 48% of participants once a month. Fever (50%) and headache (30%) are the most common ailments for using OTC drugs following for cold/cough (10%) and acidity (10%). the classes of commonly used drugs which were analgesics (60.30%), antacids (10.37%), vitamins (5%), anti-allergens (10.75%), anti-diarrhoeal agents (10.15%) and anti-emetic drugs (5.87%). Conclusion: Majority of the medical students use OTC drugs in our study. Analgesics, antacids, and antihistaminic were the most common group of drugs used as OTC drugs. Easy availability, confidence in self-medication and information from internet, text books and seniors were the most common reasons for their self-medication.
Pages: 04-06  |  1813 Views  93 Downloads


The Pharma Innovation Journal
How to cite this article:
Rama Narayana Reddy RV, Raja TAR, G Senthil, Priyadharshini. Self-medication practices among II M.B.B.S medical students in a tertiary care hospital - A cross sectional study. Pharma Innovation 2016;5(4):04-06.

Call for book chapter