SELF-MEDICATION WITH ANTIBIOTICS AMONG FIRST PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL STUDENTS IN PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Self-medication is one of the important public health issues throughout the world specially in developing countries, as it has variety of effects on the health of the community and drug resistance to antibiotics by microorganism as well. Self-medication with antibiotics may affect and accelerate the speed of multidrug resistance to antibiotics and other adverse effects on health like drug toxicity, increase morbidity and cost of the treatment and prolonged hospitalization.
OBJECTIVE: To determine self-medication with antibiotics among first professional medical students in Peshawar, Pakistan.
METHODOLOGY: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done from january to march 2013 on students of first professional MBBS of Rehman Medical College Peshawar. After pre-test on 20 samples the questionnaires were distributed to all 199 students {115 (57.7%) male and 84 (42.2%) female} and were taken back on the same day.Both open and close ended questions were included in questionnaire. Participants were asked whether they have used antibiotic as self-medication, those who confirmed self-medication with antibiotics were asked to answer the following questions.
RESULTS: Self-medication with antibiotics was found in 72.2 % (n=144) participants. In the past one year 26.3% (n=38) participants used antibiotics as self-medication just one time, while 29.1% (n=42) participants practiced self-medication with antibiotics more than five times. Common reasons for self-medication were; diseases were not serious enough to consult doctor (n=84, 58.3%), previous experience with self-medication (n=46, 31.9%), and the common complaints were sore throat, fever runny nose and diarrhea. Common complaints for which antibiotics were used; were sore throat (n=120, 83.3%), cough (n=68, 47.2%), fever (n=68, 47.2%) and runny nose (n=58, 40.2%). The selection of antibiotics were based on previous doctor’s prescription (n=100, 69.4%), opinion of others (n=86, 59.7%), self-experience (n=28, 19.4 %) and advertisement (n=6, 4.1%). Common antibiotics used as self-medication were co-amoxiclave (n=54, 37.5%), ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin (n=12, 8.3% for each) and amoxicillin (n=10, 6.9%).
CONCLUSION: Our study shows that self-medication is widely practiced among students of the institute. In this situation, faculties should create awareness and educate their students regarding advantages and disadvantages of self-medication.
KEY WORDS: Self-medication; antibiotics; co-amoxiclave;sore throat; fever
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