Practices and determinants of self-medication among undergraduate medical students of Peshawar, Pakistan

Abstract

Self-medication, which often includes over-the-counter (OTC) medications, is described as a global public health issue affecting a vast number of individuals. The rate of self-medication has risen considerably among medical students, as evidenced by various published studies. Self-medication was reported to be quite common (88.4%) when 389 medical students were polled about it. The frequency were found higher in female students (66.3%) as compared to male students (22.1%) with significant p-value (p=0.007). The most frequently used items were painkillers (77.57%), antipyretics (52.06%), cough and cold medications (48.71%), antitussives (40.20%) and antibiotics (30.92%). They primarily purchased self-medication supplies from pharmacies and extensively relied on family members and their own prior medical experiences for knowledge on the medications they used (p<0.05). However, among these medical students, the idea of self-medication is well-established because they realized that mild illnesses could be treated without visiting a doctor.  High levels of education and professional success have been said to be indicators of self-medication. The results suggest that in order to prevent the rising trend of self-medication, rigorous laws should be implemented that prohibit the distribution of pharmaceuticals without a valid prescription. The risks of self-medication should be made known to young people, especially females.