A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY ON SELF-MEDICATION PRACTICES AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS: PATTERNS AND RISK FACTORS
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Keywords
Self-medication, college students, risk factors, pharmacy, Peshawar.
Abstract
Objective: the aim of the study find out the self-medication patterns and related factors influencing the conduct of students of the college.
Study design: A prospective observational study.
Place and duration of study: Department of Pharmacy at Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, from 07-January -2020 to 07-December 2020.
Methodology: The Study was an observational study the Department of Pharmacy, Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) Peshawar, Pakistan, that was conducted between Jan 2020 to Dec 2020. 100 participants who were enrolled in various college programs were selected to take part in the study. Observations on self-medication procedures, including drug utilization patterns, self-medication motives, sources of objecting medicines, and associated risk indicators were obtained by use of structured interviews and analyzed descriptively.
Results: One of the subjects in the study is that out of 100 students who were surveyed, 75 were abstaining from severe painkillers. Some of the students took antibiotics and antacids, and the counts totaled 30 and 20. The leading explanations indicated that they did it for minor ailments (60 students), ease of availability (25 students), and accumulated experience on how to do it (20 students). Pharmacies have been the most accessible drug stores that students go to buy themselves medicines for self-medication. Over 80 students depend on the pharmacies for their medication. Moreover, 70 students admitted to having had self-medication experiences in the past, whereas 40 students agreed or made acquaintance with the related risks. Many students used drugs in hand readily, which might represent the risk of self-medication cases.
Conclusion: A largely popular practice, self-medicating with college students can also cause danger though. These health education programs can be used to create awareness about these health dangers and teach students what it means to use medications properly, which in turn can help mitigate these risks, especially among college students.
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Sadaf Shamshad
Department of Pharmacy, Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar 25000, Pakistan
Hasib Shamshad
Research Centre for Modeling & Simulation, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) Islamabad H12, Pakistan