PREVALENCE AND PERCEPTION OF SELF-MEDICATION AMONG PRECLINICAL AND CLINICAL MEDICAL STUDENTS IN A PRIVATE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF LAHORE
Main Article Content
Keywords
Self-medication, medical students, prevalence, herbal medicine, Pakistan
Abstract
Background: Self-medication is common among medical students because of their medical knowledge and easy access to medicines. Although responsible self-medication may contribute to self-care, inappropriate use can lead to adverse drug reactions, delayed diagnosis, and antimicrobial resistance. This study assessed the prevalence, perceptions, and determinants of self-medication among pre-clinical and clinical medical students in a private medical college in Lahore.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 268 undergraduate MBBS students, equally divided into pre-clinical (n=134) and clinical (n=134) groups. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire on self-medication practices, perceptions, herbal medicine use, and sociodemographic characteristics. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and Poisson regression. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.
Results: Self-medication was highly prevalent among the participants. The most common reasons for self-medication were perceiving symptoms as mild (33.2%) and previous positive experience with the same medication (32.4%). Books (20.0%) and media (17.6%) were the leading sources of medication-related information, while medicines were most frequently obtained from friends (22.8%) and the internet (20.0%). Nearly half of the students (44.4%) reported combining herbal and conventional medicines. Perceptions regarding the safety of herbal medicines differed significantly between pre-clinical and clinical students (p=0.016). Multivariable Poisson regression identified residence in a student dormitory as the only independent predictor of self-medication (adjusted PR=1.944, 95% CI: 1.138–3.323; p=0.015).
Conclusion: Self-medication is highly prevalent among undergraduate medical students and is primarily driven by perceived minor illness and previous treatment experience. Educational interventions promoting rational medicine use and stricter regulation of over-the-counter drug dispensing are needed to encourage safe self-medication practices.
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