Self-medication with Antibiotics in Health Science and non-Health Science University Students

Gloria Fuentes Carrillo

doi:10.24253/anr.1.170

Abstract

Self-medication is a very common practice in the Spanish university cohort due to the easy access to medicine both with and without a medical prescription, which can cause numerous health problems due to irresponsible use of pharmaceutical drugs and the masking of symptoms that could be indicative of major diseases. The therapeutic breach or the abuse of antibiotics in this group can produce bacterial resistance and generate a great cost to health services. This descriptive study utilizes 135 students from the University of Extremadura (Spain) divided by Health Science and non-Health Science programs for which a survey was provided online to gather information on the population and the most common habits of self-medication in order to determine the need for programs on health education and to determine the information that students possess on the rational use of these medicines. The results showed high percentages of self-medication with antibiotics in students who lived in their family’s home and took courses in non-Health Science studies due to disinformation concerning basic pharmacology. In addition, antibiotic treatment was abandoned in 89% of cases when symptoms disappeared. In conclusion, non-health sciences students demonstrate misperceptions and limited knowledge about the correct use of medicines. Students who self-medicate with antibiotics are more likely to live in their family home and have non-health sciences areas of study. They are also more likely to stop antibiotic treatment early once the symptoms for which they took the medication resolve. This could be related to the lack of information about the correct use of medicines. Programs in health education in schools and a greater presence of nursing in the education of children could cause a shift in behavior in future generations.

Highlights

Self-medication is defined by the World Self-Medication Industry (WSMI) and the International Pharmaceutical Federation (IPF) as “the use of medicines without medical prescription at the person’s own initiative.”[1]. Self-medication is a common practice in Spain due to social, economic and cultural factors
Risk factors related to inappropriate self-medication with antibiotics were living in the family home and having a non-health sciences field of study
Positive factors related with responsible self-medication with antibiotics were the reading of the package insert and consulting with health care professionals

Summary

Introduction

Self-medication is defined by the World Self-Medication Industry (WSMI) and the International Pharmaceutical Federation (IPF) as “the use of medicines without medical prescription at the person’s own initiative.”[1]. Self-care includes preventing health problems by eating an appropriate diet, engaging in physical exercise, consuming alcohol in moderation, and avoiding the use of tobacco and the abuse of drugs. When these preventive measures are not sufficient, the patient generally decides to use non-prescription medicines. In Spain, patients take non-prescription medications with similar frequency as prescription medications This can cause the improper use of medications due to the ease of access of over-the-counter medicines, which can in turn lead to medication misuse and overall worsening of the symptoms they are intended to treat.[3]

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