Level of self-medication awareness to internet usage among selected, non-medical students in Centro Escolar university-Manila during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Self-medication is the act of using accessible substances to treat self-diagnosed health conditions. Due to ubiquitous access and innovations of smartphones, the internet has become more accessible than before. Hence, the internet has become a significant source of health-related information, leading to increased and uncontrolled internet self-medication. Additionally, because non-medical students typically have a higher level of education and ability to find online health resources, they are more likely to self-medicate. Thus, the purpose of the study was to verify the level of self-medication awareness to internet usage among selected, non-medical students from different colleges in Centro Escolar University-Manila during the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically the School of Accountancy and Management, School of Education, Liberal Arts, Music, and Social Work, School of Nutrition and Hospitality Management, and School of Science and Technology. The study applied a descriptive method and employed random sampling with a sample size of 327 respondents, using Slovin's formula. The research instrument used was survey questionnaires. After conducting the validity and reliability testing, the self-made questionnaire in Google forms was distributed to the respondents using their institutional email addresses. Results of the study have shown that there is a significant difference in self-medication awareness based on the respondents’ sociodemographic profiles, particularly their sex, year level, and degree program. Current findings also showed no significant relationship between the extent of internet usage and the level of self-medication awareness among the respondents.