A study to evaluate the prevalence and pattern of prescription drug abuse among medical students and resident doctors in a tertiary care hospital in Mumbai: A questionnaire based study

Abstract

Background: Substance abuse especially among health professionals is a serious problem which not only threatens their professional standards and the quality of services delivered but if left unchecked, can lead to grave consequences for health care consumers. Aims & Objectives: To assess the prevalence and pattern of prescription drug abuse among Medical Students and Resident Doctors and also to assess the gender difference in the prevalence and pattern. Materials and Methods: An observational, cross sectional, questionnaire based study conducted in Grant Government Medical College and Sir J.J. Group of Hospitals, Mumbai, among 200 undergraduate medical students and 200 resident doctors of the hospitals. Results: Among 400 participants 250 were male and 150 were female. 134 (33.5%) in age group of 18-20 years followed by 129 (32.25%) in 27-29 years. Prevalence of drug abuse was high amongst the male resident 91 (74.59%). Antihistaminic were the most common drug abused by the male residents, Cough syrup by both female residents and female medical students whereas NSAIDs by male medical students. 59 (23%) correspondent were indulged in daily drug abuse, whereas majority, 201 (77%) were indulge in drug abuse more than once a month. Majority of the participants, 208 (80%), started with such prescription drug abuse from UG days, whereas 23 (8.84%) started before UG days. Self-prescription was the most common mode of obtaining the drug for 221 (85%) participants. Conclusion: Further research is needed from the Indian subcontinent to study nationwide patterns of substance use, and to identify important determinants and reinforce protective factors. Strategies need to be developed for supporting students with a substance use problem.