Antibiotics Self-Medication Practice Among Medical Students

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pharmacology
• Public Health

Background:

• Self-medication with antibiotics is prevalent among healthcare students.
• Students' pharmacological knowledge can foster overconfidence in self-diagnosis.
• This practice raises concerns about rational antibiotic use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence of antibiotic self-medication among medical students.
• To identify common antibiotics, indications, and sources for self-medication.
• To understand student perceptions regarding antibiotic self-medication.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire-based, descriptive, cross-sectional study.
• Conducted among Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery students.
• Data collected from September 2019 to February 2020 in Nepal.

Main Results:

• 52.8% of 405 students reported antibiotic self-medication.
• Azithromycin was the most common antibiotic; sore throat was the most frequent indication.
• Previous prescriptions and personal pharmacological knowledge were primary sources; prior illness experience was the main reason.

Conclusions:

• Antibiotic self-medication is common among medical students.
• This practice, particularly with azithromycin for sore throats, is concerning given students' future roles as prescribers.
• Students acknowledge the risks, including antimicrobial resistance, yet the practice persists.