To study the pattern, efficacy and tolerability of analgesic self‑medication among undergraduate medical students: a questionnaire based survey.
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Date
2015-05
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Abstract
Background: Self-medication is widely prevalent among medical students. Sufficient
data is still lacking in India. The present study was aimed to determine the pattern,
efficacy and, tolerability of analgesic self-medication among undergraduate medical
students.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study. A structured
questionnaire was given to medical students aged 18-24 years. Results were expressed
in numbers and percentage.
Results: In the present study, 130 students filled the questionnaires completely and were
assessed for study. The principal morbidity for seeking self-medication was moderate
intensity headache which is completely relieved by analgesics in most of the cases.
Pain affected the quality of life of students by decrease in concentration in studies,
decrease in energy level, and affecting their daily activity. Analgesics which were
commonly used for self-medication included paracetamol (64%), diclofenac (7.6%),
aceclofenac (5.3%), paracetamol plus ibuprofen combination (4.6%), mefenamic
acid plus dicyclomine combination (7.7%) ibuprofen (5.3%), and others (5%).
Gastrointestinal side effects were also observed (29%). Reasons for seeking selfmedication
were mild nature of the illness (39%), saves time and money (27%),
self confidence in treatment (19%), easy and effective (15%). Among the source
of information of self-medication includes the use of previous prescriptions (50%),
advertisement (9%), textbooks (23%), and others (18%).
Conclusions: Our study showed a high prevalence (77.8%) of analgesic
self‑medication among medical students. Paracetamol was the most common drug
consumed, followed by other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. A high incidence
of side effects observed. It is necessary to create more awareness regarding possible
harmful effects of self-medication and ways to minimize them.
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Keywords
Medical students, Analgesics, Self-medication, Pain
Citation
Tanwar Krishna, Mathur Shobhana. To study the pattern, efficacy and tolerability of analgesic self‑medication among undergraduate medical students: a questionnaire based survey. International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology. 2015 May-Jun; 4(3): 446-448.