Self-medication practices among South Indian medical undergraduates

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Journal name: World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
Original article title: Perceptions and patterns of self medication among medical undergraduates in south india
The WJPR includes peer-reviewed publications such as scientific research papers, reports, review articles, company news, thesis reports and case studies in areas of Biology, Pharmaceutical industries and Chemical technology while incorporating ancient fields of knowledge such combining Ayurveda with scientific data.
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Original source:

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Author:

Dr. Nandini.T, Dr. Rathai Rajagopalan, Dr. Ravi D. Mala


World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research:

(An ISO 9001:2015 Certified International Journal)

Full text available for: Perceptions and patterns of self medication among medical undergraduates in south india

Source type: An International Peer Reviewed Journal for Pharmaceutical and Medical and Scientific Research


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Summary of article contents:

Introduction

Self-medication, defined as obtaining and consuming drugs without a physician's advice, is prevalent in developing countries due to the easy availability of over-the-counter drugs. Medical students, due to their future role as prescribers and their pharmacological knowledge, represent a unique demographic. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and patterns of self-medication among medical undergraduates in South India.

Prevalence of Self-Medication

The study found that 90.2% of medical students self-medicated in the last six months, with a higher incidence among females. Common symptoms for which self-medication was practiced included cold/cough (57.6%), fever (53.6%), and sore throat (47.4%). Paracetamol (59.3%) and anti-tussives (54.2%) were the most frequently used drugs.

Reasons for Self-Medication

The primary reasons for self-medication included not wanting to spend money on doctor’s fees (50.8%), time-saving (43.5%), and sufficient pharmacological knowledge (38.4%). The most common sources of drug information were pharmacists (54.2%) and prior prescriptions (38.9%).

Implications and Patterns

The study highlighted concerns about irrational drug use, such as the high prevalence of antibiotic use (49.1%) and the potential for adverse effects and drug resistance. The patterns of self-medication were deemed inappropriate, indicating inadequate knowledge even among medical students.

Conclusion

The study revealed a high prevalence of self-medication among medical students in South India, with patterns suggesting a lack of appropriate knowledge. Given that these students are future prescribers, it is essential to implement educational interventions at the undergraduate level to inform them about the advantages and risks of self-medication.

FAQ section (important questions/answers):

What is self-medication?

Self-medication involves obtaining and consuming drugs without a physician's advice for diagnosis, prescription, or treatment surveillance.

Who conducted the study on self-medication?

The study was conducted by Dr. Nandini T, Dr. Rathai Rajagopalan, and Dr. Ravi D. Mala from various medical colleges in South India.

What was the sample size of the study?

The study enrolled 205 students, out of which 195 completed the questionnaire.

What were common symptoms for self-medication?

The most common symptoms were cold/cough (57.6%), fever (53.6%), and sore throat (47.4%).

What were the reasons for self-medication?

Common reasons included saving money on doctor's fees (50.8%) and time (43.5%), and having sufficient pharmacological knowledge (38.4%).

What were the common sources of drug information?

The most common sources were pharmacists (54.2%), prior prescriptions (38.9%), and textbooks (31%).

Glossary definitions and references:

Scientific and Ayurvedic Glossary list for “Self-medication practices among South Indian medical undergraduates”. This list explains important keywords that occur in this article and links it to the glossary for a better understanding of that concept in the context of Ayurveda and other topics.

1) Drug:
Keyword: Drug. Drugs play a central role in the study by Nandini T et al. The research focuses on the types of drugs that medical undergraduates in South India use for self-medication. The most common drugs reported include paracetamol, anti-tussives, antibiotics, and analgesics. Understanding drug usage patterns is crucial for addressing self-medication practices.

2) Knowledge:
Keyword: Knowledge. The research underscores the importance of pharmacological knowledge among medical undergraduates. It examines how confidence in their medical knowledge influences their decision to self-medicate, as 38.4% of students cited sufficient pharmacological knowledge as a reason for self-medicating.

3) Nandini (Nandinī, Namdini):
Keyword: Nandini. Dr. Nandini T is the lead author of the study on self-medication patterns among medical undergraduates in South India. She is affiliated with the Department of Pharmacology at Sri Siddhartha Medical College and Research Centre, Tumkur, India.

4) Reason:
Keyword: Reason. The study identifies several reasons why medical students engage in self-medication. Among the most common were avoiding doctor's fees, saving time, relying on sufficient pharmacological knowledge, and considering the illness as too mild to warrant medical consultation.

5) Pharmacology:
Keyword: Pharmacology. Pharmacology is significant as the study was conducted by the Departments of Pharmacology at various medical colleges. The participants were medical students who had completed their pharmacology exams, making their understanding of drug use a focal point of the research.

6) Siddhartha (Siddhārtha, Siddhārthā, Siddha-artha):
Keyword: Siddhartha. Sri Siddhartha Medical College and Research Centre in Tumkur, South India, is one of the institutions where the study was conducted. It provided the participants and served as a basis for gathering data on self-medication practices among medical undergraduates.

7) Perception:
Keyword: Perception. The term highlights that the research aimed to understand the perceptions medical students have about self-medication. The students’ perceptions affect how they approach and justify their self-medication practices, impacting the overall study findings.

8) Discussion:
Keyword: Discussion. This section of the paper provides an analysis of the data collected on self-medication practices. It compares the study’s findings with other similar studies, highlighting differences in prevalence rates, drug types used, and reasons for self-medication.

9) Science (Scientific):
Keyword: Science. Science underpins the research methodology and credibility. The study applies scientific principles to systematically gather, analyze, and interpret data on self-medication practices among medical students, providing a scientific basis for conclusions and recommendations.

10) Substance:
Keyword: Substance. In this context, 'substance' refers to the various drugs used by medical students for self-medication. These include over-the-counter and prescription medications that the participants used without consulting a healthcare professional.

11) Medicine:
Keyword: Medicine. The term highlights the context within which the study was conducted. It focuses on medical undergraduates, who are students of medicine and future prescribers, making their self-medication habits a subject of medical interest and concern.

12) Vomiting:
Keyword: Vomiting. Vomiting is listed as one of the symptoms for which medical students in the study took self-medication. Understanding these symptoms helps elucidate the common ailments motivating self-medication among the participants.

13) Anxiety:
Keyword: Anxiety. Anxiety was one of the lesser common symptoms (18%) for which students took self-medication. Studying this helps in understanding the psychological aspects and stressors that might influence self-medication behavior among medical students.

14) Ravi (Rāvī, Rāvin, Ravin):
Keyword: Ravi. Dr. Ravi D. Mala is one of the co-authors of the study. He is from the Department of Pharmacology at Mediciti Institute of Medical Sciences, contributing to the research on self-medication among medical undergraduates.

15) Mala (Māla, Mālā, Māḻā, Māḷa, Maḻa):
Keyword: Mala. It refers to Dr. Ravi D. Mala, a contributor to the study, emphasizing the collaborative nature of the research. His role from the Mediciti Institute of Medical Sciences adds depth to the multi-institutional perspective of the study.

16) Post:
Keyword: Post. Pertains to MSRIT Post associated with M.S. Ramaiah Medical College. The term signifies the specific geographical and institutional setting relevant to Dr. Rathai Rajagopalan, adding context to the study's location and demographic coverage.

Other Science Concepts:

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Discover the significance of concepts within the article: ‘Self-medication practices among South Indian medical undergraduates’. Further sources in the context of Science might help you critically compare this page with similair documents:

Common symptom, Study population, Educational measures, Cross-sectional study, Self medication, Ethical approval, Medical consultation, WHO guideline, Study Limitation, Over the counter drug.

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