Health-seeking behavior and self-medication practices among undergraduate students of different faculties of health science in a teaching hospital: a comparative study

Abstract

Background: Health-seeking behavior refers to the actions taken by individuals when they encounter a health-related issue, intending to find an appropriate solution or remedy. Health-seeking behavior and self-medication practices are crucial aspects of healthcare, particularly among medical students who may face unique challenges. This study aims to compare and assess the health-seeking behavior and self-medication practices among students from various health science faculties of the Teaching Hospital in Nepal. Methods: A questionnaire-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 133 final-year undergraduate students from medical and Nursing programs at a teaching hospital in Nepal. Results: Overall, Self-medication practices were highly prevalent among all three health-related faculties: MBBS students had the highest rates (79.2%), followed by BSc Nursing students (75%), and BNS students (60.7%). A significant proportion of students were engaged in self-diagnosis, with 66.2% of MBBS, 78.6% of BSc Nursing, and 78.6% of BNS students. Gender differences were observed, with female students showing a higher tendency to seek professional medical help (P = 0.008, OR = 0.38, 95% CI 0.18–0.78). Additionally, students from Bagmati Province exhibited a significantly higher rate of self-medication practices (P = 0.006, OR = 0.38, 95% CI 0.19–0.77). Younger students demonstrated better awareness of health status and health-seeking behaviors (P = 0.026, OR = 0.44, 95% CI 0.21–0.91). Conclusion: This study found notable variations in health-seeking behaviour among final-year health-related students, with female students demonstrating a higher tendency to seek professional medical care and younger students showing better awareness of their health status and appropriate health-seeking practices. Despite this, a high prevalence of self-medication was observed, particularly among MBBS students, with students from Bagmati Province exhibiting significantly higher rates. These findings underscore the coexistence of appropriate health-seeking behaviour alongside widespread self-diagnosis and self-medication practices, highlighting the need for targeted educational strategies and policy interventions to promote rational self-care in this high-risk population.