ISSN 0303-5212
 

Original Research 
RMJ. 2022; 47(3): 673-676


Comparison of trends of self-medication among medical and non-medical students in twin cities of Pakistan

Farwa Shabbir, Mubashira Kiran, Syeda Aimen Waris, Munazzah Kaleem, Ramish Riaz, Sonia Kiran.

Abstract
Objective: To determine the prevalence of self-medication among medical and non-medical students in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Methodology: This cross-sectional study included 500 students; 250 medical students of Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi and 250 non-medical students of multiple Universities of Islamabad. Data were collected via questionnaire (self-structured) during May to July 2018. MBBS, pharmacy and allied sciences students were considered under medical student’s category. Convenient sampling method was used. The data were analyzed using SPSS 25.
Results: Mean age of the students were 21.31±2.48 years with male to female ratio of 0.3:1. Out of 500 students, 346 (69.2%) used self -medication. Among these, 191 (55.2%) were medical students and 155 (44.79%) were non-medical students. Significant association (Odds ratio=1.9841, p=0.0005) was found for self-medication among medical students and non-medical students. Trend of self-medication was more towards allopathic medicine then alternative medicine. The major reason for using self-medications was previous similar experience, followed by its reason being time saving and for quick relief of their symptoms.
Conclusion: Trend of taking self-medication is more common in medical students compared to non-medical. There is a need to educate the students about adverse effects of self-medication to limit their use. These drugs should not be available over the counter and the health care services should be easily accessible to people.

Key words: Self-medication, medical, non-medical students, allopathic medicine, adverse effects.


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Shabbir F, Kiran M, Waris SA, Kaleem M, Riaz R, Kiran S. Comparison of trends of self-medication among medical and non-medical students in twin cities of Pakistan. RMJ. 2022; 47(3): 673-676.


Web Style

Shabbir F, Kiran M, Waris SA, Kaleem M, Riaz R, Kiran S. Comparison of trends of self-medication among medical and non-medical students in twin cities of Pakistan. https://www.rmj.org.pk/?mno=91708 [Access: December 07, 2023].


AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Shabbir F, Kiran M, Waris SA, Kaleem M, Riaz R, Kiran S. Comparison of trends of self-medication among medical and non-medical students in twin cities of Pakistan. RMJ. 2022; 47(3): 673-676.



Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Shabbir F, Kiran M, Waris SA, Kaleem M, Riaz R, Kiran S. Comparison of trends of self-medication among medical and non-medical students in twin cities of Pakistan. RMJ. (2022), [cited December 07, 2023]; 47(3): 673-676.



Harvard Style

Shabbir, F., Kiran, . M., Waris, . S. A., Kaleem, . M., Riaz, . R. & Kiran, . S. (2022) Comparison of trends of self-medication among medical and non-medical students in twin cities of Pakistan. RMJ, 47 (3), 673-676.



Turabian Style

Shabbir, Farwa, Mubashira Kiran, Syeda Aimen Waris, Munazzah Kaleem, Ramish Riaz, and Sonia Kiran. 2022. Comparison of trends of self-medication among medical and non-medical students in twin cities of Pakistan. Rawal Medical Journal, 47 (3), 673-676.



Chicago Style

Shabbir, Farwa, Mubashira Kiran, Syeda Aimen Waris, Munazzah Kaleem, Ramish Riaz, and Sonia Kiran. "Comparison of trends of self-medication among medical and non-medical students in twin cities of Pakistan." Rawal Medical Journal 47 (2022), 673-676.



MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Shabbir, Farwa, Mubashira Kiran, Syeda Aimen Waris, Munazzah Kaleem, Ramish Riaz, and Sonia Kiran. "Comparison of trends of self-medication among medical and non-medical students in twin cities of Pakistan." Rawal Medical Journal 47.3 (2022), 673-676. Print.



APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Shabbir, F., Kiran, . M., Waris, . S. A., Kaleem, . M., Riaz, . R. & Kiran, . S. (2022) Comparison of trends of self-medication among medical and non-medical students in twin cities of Pakistan. Rawal Medical Journal, 47 (3), 673-676.