Self-medication pattern among medical students in Middle Delta, Egypt

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pharmacology
• Public Health

Background:

• Self-medication poses risks like drug resistance and adverse effects.
• Medical students, as future healthcare providers, are significant users of self-medication.
• Understanding self-medication patterns in this group is crucial for future healthcare quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of self-medication among undergraduate medical students.
• To identify the patterns and determinants of self-medication in this population.
• To inform interventions aimed at reducing inappropriate self-medication.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study conducted over four months (November 2023 - February 2024).
• Two-stage cluster sampling used to select Egyptian undergraduate medical students at Tanta University.
• Data collected via self-administered questionnaires on sociodemographics and self-medication habits.

Main Results:

• A high prevalence of self-medication (71%) was observed among medical students.
• Headache was the most common reason for self-medication (80.4%), with analgesics being the most frequently used drugs (92.4%).
• Students' medical knowledge and pharmacist recommendations influenced drug selection, yet 30.2% experienced side effects.

Conclusions:

• Self-medication is a widespread practice among Egyptian medical students.
• Analgesics for headaches are the most common self-medication choice.
• There is an urgent need to enhance awareness and education regarding the risks and proper diagnosis.