Abstract
To determine the incidence of self-medication among Sharjah university students and the impact of medical knowledge on such practice. A pre-validated questionnaire was distributed to 200 pharmacy students during May, 2012. Data were analyzed using SPSS and results expressed as counts and percentages. The overall response rate was 85% with 98% of respondents being Arabs. Females comprised about 91% of students and the mean age (SD) was 19.5(2.4). Practicing self-medication in the past year was high as145 (86%) used drugs without medical consultation. Most respondents (128, 76%) obtained their medication from pharmacies and used the medication for one week (106, 63%). Antibiotics were used by 54(32%) of students despite the fact that slightly more than 50% of students were aware of the possibility of emergence of bacterial resistance and were also aware of the concept of rational drug use in general. Main reasons for self-medication were non-serious health problem, illness is minor, seeking quick relief and to avoid long waiting hours at clinics. Reasons against self-medication include risks of adverse effects, using the wrong medication, drug interaction, misdiagnosis and drug abuse and dependence. Medical consultation is mainly sought in case of presence of severe pain, worsening of symptoms, or persistence of the latter for more than a week. Headache or mild pain, eye and ear symptoms, gastric problems, cold, fever and allergy were the commonest symptoms for self-medication. Knowledge of responsible self medication is inadequate but the practice is high and common among pharmacy students. Interventions to promote responsible self-medication among university students are required.
Highlights
Self medication is the medically unsolicited use of prescription and/or Over-The Counter (OTC) drugs
Responsible self-medication can be defined as the appropriate use of OTC drugs to conditions for which they are necessary (Annonymus, 2007), a practice that requires a certain level of knowledge by those who use such drugs (Aljinovic-Vucic et al, 2005)
About one third of students used antibiotics for self-medication and slightly more than 50% of students were aware of rational drug use and the possibility of development of bacterial resistance associated with misuse of antibiotics
Summary
Self medication is the medically unsolicited use of prescription and/or Over-The Counter (OTC) drugs. The practice is becoming a form of self care (Hughes et al, 2001) and is a global trend that is encouraged when it deals with minor illness (Porteous et al, 2005). Selfmedication is not restricted to OTC drugs, it encompasses use of prescription drugs like antibiotics (Abasaeed et al, 2009; Sarhroodi et al, 2010). Responsible self-medication can be defined as the appropriate use of OTC drugs to conditions for which they are necessary (Annonymus, 2007), a practice that requires a certain level of knowledge by those who use such drugs (Aljinovic-Vucic et al, 2005). The WHO (1995) stressed that rational self medication helps in the prevention and treatment of minor pathological conditions at an affordable cost. As in addition to the possibility of serious adverse effects, drug interactions, poly pharmacy and drug abuse and dependence, the emergence of resistant
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