Kundu, RupayanSarkar, NiveditaPal, Tuhin Subhra2024-11-302024-11-302024-02Kundu Rupayan, Sarkar Nivedita, Pal Tuhin Subhra. A Cross-Sectional Study Examining the Behavioral Patterns and Attitudes of First - and Second-Year Medical College Students in West Bengal, India, Regarding Self-Medication. Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences. 2024 Feb; 13(2): 36-412278-48022278-4748https://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/238597BACKGROUND Self-medication is a pervasive habit, and drug abuse is a severe problem. Since medical students are future doctors, they give it a unique significance. The study's objectives were to assess the practice, knowledge, and attitudes of first- and second-year medical students at a medical college in West Bengal, India, about self-medication. METHODS The study was conducted in Nilratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal. In 2021, medical students across the colleges of West Bengal conducted cross-sectional research using questionnaires. Upon being informed of the objectives and design of the study, first- and second-year MBBS students willingly agreed to participate. RESULTS In this study, 91.50% of medical students practiced self-medication. The common indication for self-medication was fever (89.2%) and headache (69.6%). Previous prescriptions for the same illness (68.87%) were the main source of information for self-medication. Common reasons for self-medication were urgency (53.33%) and quick relief (50%). Over-the-counter (88.14%) drugs were the most common sources of medications. The common preferred system of self-medication was allopathic (92.5%). The percentage of discontinuation (58.1%) of self-medication was more. The majority of them favoured oral (96.67%) media. CONCLUSIONS It was determined that more than half of the student population self-medicated for a wide range of ailments; the cause may be the increased public awareness of drugs brought on by the availability of information via books, the internet, and over-the-counter medications from pharmacists. Therefore, it is crucial to stop students from self-medicating to prevent the emergence of drug habits, resistance, and drug interactions.AwarenessDrug AbuseIllnessMedical StudentsSelf-Medication.Journal ArticleIndiaIntern, Nilratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, IndiaIntern, Nilratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, IndiaDepartment of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, West Bengal, India