Knowledge and behavior of Saudi female university students toward self-medication: a cross-sectional study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Self-medication can be defined as the use of different modalities of medications in treating self-diagnosed conditions. It also includes the use of prescribed drugs, either on an intermittent or continuous basis for treating chronic or recurrent symptoms. The present study was aimed at assessing the knowledge and behavior of Saudi female university students toward self-medication in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. Methodology: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted on Princess Nora University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (PNU) students. The data collection included sections about sociodemographic data, behavior, and experience of self-medication, questions regarding health care system, and students influence on self-medication practices. The statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 22 was used for data analysis. The study assessed the common symptoms for which study participants practice self-medication, the drug categories commonly used, the sources used to acquire information about their disease. The study also analyzed their experience with self-medication and evaluated the quality of health care services. Results: The prevalence of self-medication among PNU students was found to be 82.6%. The majority of the study subjects reported using analgesics (73.5%) for headache and abdominal pain. Information was mainly accessed from internet and relatives (34.4% and 37.7%). Although 92.1% of participants found improvement of their condition, about 5.3% reported emergency admission. Most of the study participants (91%) reported the health care availability. Conclusion: Self-medication was found to be prevalent among PNU students; The College atmosphere and the educational level do not seem to influence its prevalence.