Study of Knowledge and Practices of Self-Medication among Medical Students at Jammu

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Self-medication is the treatment of common health problems with medicines that are taken an patient's own initiative or on advice of a pharmacist, without professional supervision. It is now becoming a common practice in many countries mainly due to lack of access to health care, easy availability of OTC drugs in market and poor drug regulatory practices. OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge and practices of self-medication among medical students. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out among the students of GMC Jammu in August 2011, after faking approval from IEC. A 16-item, open-ended, pretested questionnaire was administered to students. Data was then analysed using SPSS version 12 and results expressed as counts and percentages. RESULTS: A total of 282 students participated in the study, among which 96 were from 1st semester, 88 from 3rd and 98 from 6th semester. Knowledge of self-medication was adequate in 68% of 1st semester, 81 % of 3rd and 87% of 6th semester students.85% of respondents from 1st semester, 79% from 3rd and 78% from 6th practised self-medication. CONCLUSION: Since seniors hod better knowledge of drugs , self medication was practised less as compared tb juniors. There is a need to review educational programs especially clinical pharmacology, focusing on rational use of drugs. JMS 2012;15(2):141-44