SELF-MEDICATION AMONG UNDERGRADUATE HEALTH SCIENCES STUDENTS IN A PRIVATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF MALAYSIA – A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Main Article Content
Keywords
Self-medication, Undergraduate students, Health sciences, Malaysia, Cross-sectional study
Abstract
Self-medication is an integral part of self-care where people use the medicine on their own initiatives with therapeutic intent but without professional advice or prescription. This study assessed the self-medication among 3rd and 4th year undergraduate health sciences students from a private medical university of Malaysia.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 499 pharmacy, medical and dental students of 3rd and 4th year degree programme to assess their Self-Medication (SM) using 30 pre-validated questions by convenient sampling method. Students’ responses were measured at “Yes” and “No” scale for knowledge, sources of information and types of SM. However, 3-point Likert scales (Disagree=1, Neutral=2, Agree=3) were used to measure reasons and preventive methods for SM. Students’ responses were entered in SPSS version 24 and quantitative analyses were performed using descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests at p<0.05.
Interpretations and conclusion
Dental students had low knowledge about the indication (79.20%), active component (43.30%), side effects (65%) and dose, frequency, and duration of treatment (63.30%) compared to pharmacy and medical students. Students’ mean scores were associated with their knowledge (p<0.001), preventive methods (p=0.039), sources of information (p=0.013) and types of SM (p=0.018) on Chi-Square test. Mann-Whitney U test revealed a significant difference between pharmacy and dental students’ mean scores for knowledge (p<0.001), sources (p=0.013) and type of SM (p=0.048); pharmacy and medical students’ mean scores for types of SM (p<0.001); dental and medical students’ mean scores for knowledge (p<0.001), reasons (p=0.048) and methods to prevent SM (p=0.023).
Study revealed a low knowledge of drug related components among dental followed by pharmacy students that requires a sensitization towards appropriate usage of drugs and better practice of self-medication needs among future healthcare providers.
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Dinesh Kumar Upadhyay
Professor, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jaipur National University, New RTO office, Jagatpura, Jaipur (R.J.) India-302017 Email: dinesh17dec@rediffmail.com,
0000-0001-5515-0426
Yoshita Gupta
Doctor of Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jaipur National University, New RTO office, Jagatpura, Jaipur (R.J.), India-302017 Email: klgupta933@gmail.com,
0009-0000-3476-7910
Grishma Krishnan
Doctor of Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jaipur National University, New RTO office, Jagatpura, Jaipur (R.J.), India-302017 Email: krishnangrishma@gmail.com,
0009-0004-4020-0354
Ravi Kumar Mishra
Doctor of Pharmacy, Sri Aurobindo Institute of Pharmacy SAIMS Campus, Indore-Ujjain Highway, Near MR-10 crossing, Indore (M.P.), India-453111 Email: Mishraravi9oct@gmail.com, 0009-0001-8764-7477
Shailesh Harishchandra Kendre
Doctor of Pharmacy, Progressive Education Society, Modern college of Pharmacy, Nigdi Pune, (MAHA), India – 411044 Email: shaileshkendre200@gmail.com,
0009-0003-4454-9353
Radhika Sharma
Doctor of Pharmacy, Aurobindo Institute of Pharmacy, SAIMS Campus, Indore-Ujjain Highway, Near MR-10 crossing, Indore (M.P.), India-453111 Email- muskansharma2374@gmail.com,
0009-0001-8764-7477
Sonam Pandey
Causality Medical Officer, Jaipur National University Institute for Medical Sciences & Research Centre Jaipur, (R.J.), India-302017 Email: sonampandey1985@gmail.com
Ronit Gandhi
Doctor of Pharmacy, Poona College of Pharmacy, Rambaug Colony, Paud Road, Erandwane Pune, (Maha), India -411038 Email: ronitgandhi2402@gmail.com,
0009-0005-8835-2055
