Self-Medication Practices among Medical Students of Allama Iqbal Medical College

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Self-medication is the use of medication by people without prescription, orientation or supervision of physician or dentist using their own initiative. It includes acquiring medicines without prescription, taking medication on recommendation of relatives or consuming leftover medicines already at home.

Objective:

Our study focuses on the prevalence of self-medication among medical students of Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore and the effects that maybe caused by that.

Method:

A cross-sectional study was done and data was collected by the distribution of 300 structured questionnaires using the convenient sampling technique. The data was analyzed by using SPSS v17.0 and results were generated.

Results:

A total of 300 medical students were included in the study. Most of the students (75%) used self-medication to not to bother about minor illness. Males most commonly used antibiotics (63%), while females most commonly used pain-killers (91%). Drugs were obtained mostly from the pharmacies (68.33%). (37%) used it for fever and pains while (42%) used it for flu, diarrhea and constipation in addition to fever and pains. Most of the students were well aware of the risks of self-medication and (66%) didn’t complain of any complications.  

Conclusions:

Self-medication is quite prevalent. Unauthorized use of drugs might cause complications. Thinking of ailments as minor mostly caused self-medication. Drugs are easily available without prescription.