Effects of health supplement self-medication learning media on health student behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background: Since the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the misuse of health supplements during the pandemic has been very high. Knowledge and actions of supplement self-medication educational media ensure that students provide information on appropriate supplements to the larger community. Aim: To determine the effects of various uses of health supplement self-medication learning media on the behaviour of health students based on the Health Belief Model. Method: This quasi-experimental study used a pre-test and post-test control group design and enrolled 225 respondents selected by stratified random sampling. The statistical analysis used paired sample t-test. Results: There was a significant relationship between learning educational media and increased knowledge (p = 0.037). Educational media also greatly influenced perceived self-medication behaviour, namely susceptibility (p = 0.029), benefits (p = 0.014), and barriers (p = 0.028). Conclusion: Health and life science students, including the bachelor of pharmacy students, developed other self-medication educational media that are applied and beneficial to the community.