Perceptions and Attitudes Regarding Self-Medication among Undergraduate Students of Islamabad

Abstract

Background: Self-medication, a common human behavior, involves individuals self-administering treatment without professional oversight to alleviate illness or conditions. This study aimed to evaluate perceptions and attitudes and identify associations between sociodemographic variables and self-medication among undergraduate students.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the National University of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, from June to August 2022. A sample of 200 undergraduate students across various disciplines (Public Health, Social Sciences of Health, Human Nutrition & Dietetics, Biological Sciences, and Psychology) was determined using the open epi calculator. Inclusion criteria comprised students willing to participate and available during data collection, with exclusion based on major comorbidities. Chi-square tests explored crude associations between categorical outcome variables and related factors.

Results: Out of the 200 students, 42 (21%) were boys, and 158 (79%) were girls. Most students (94%) had pursued F-Sc (Premedical) for secondary education. A majority (117) of students had highly educated fathers. Over 75% strongly disagreed with obtaining medicines without a prescription. More than half agreed that dosing rules should be more lenient. Father's occupational status (p=0.001), respondent's place of residence (p=0.040), and respondent's secondary education (p=0.0372) were significantly associated with self-medication practices.

Conclusion: Significant associations were identified between the father's occupational and educational status, the respondent's secondary education, and self-medication practices among undergraduate students.