Self-medication Patterns and Knowledge Among Undergraduate Health Sciences Students: A Cross-Sectional Study
Abeer Mohamed Abdelkader1, Ghadeer Taher Alhassan1, Wejdan Bader Albukhaytan1
1College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
SAGE Open Nursing
|March 31, 2025
Summary
Self-medication is prevalent among health science students, with 83.5% engaging in the practice. Despite satisfactory knowledge, risks associated with self-medication necessitate increased awareness and supervision of over-the-counter drug sales.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Public Health
- Health Professions Education
Background:
- Self-medication (SM) is a growing concern, particularly among young adults, due to potential adverse drug reactions and treatment failures.
- Understanding SM patterns is crucial for developing targeted interventions in healthcare education.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence, patterns, and knowledge of self-medication among undergraduate health sciences students.
- To identify factors associated with self-medication practices in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 571 undergraduate health sciences students was conducted.
- Data were collected via self-administered questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
- Convenient sampling was employed for participant recruitment.
Main Results:
- A high prevalence of self-medication (83.5%) was reported among students.
- Painkillers and antipyretics were the most common self-medicated drugs.
- Significant correlations were found between SM and chronic disease and lack of medical insurance.
Conclusions:
- A substantial proportion of health sciences students engage in self-medication.
- Despite satisfactory knowledge, there is a need for greater awareness of SM risks and stricter supervision of over-the-counter drug sales.
Keywords:
health sciences studentsmedication awarenessnon-prescription medicationsover-the-counterself-medicationMore Related Videos
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