Abstract
Self medication practices among medical students of a private institute
1Department of Forensic Medicine, N. K. P. Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Digdoh Hills, Hingana Road, Nagpur-440 019, India 2Department of Biochemistry, N. K. P. Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Digdoh Hills, Hingana Road, Nagpur-440 019, India
Correspondence Address:
Arti A Kasulkar Department of Forensic Medicine, N. K. P. Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Digdoh Hills, Hingana Road, Nagpur-440 019 India E-mail: artinarde@rediffmail.com
The study was undertaken to evaluate various aspects of self-medication in medical students. A prospective, cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was carried out among 488 medical students selected by simple random sampling from January 2013 to June 2013. Data was collected and analyzed for counts and percentage. Students reported self-medication in the preceding one year was 71.7 % and the prevalence was more in final year students. Fever and headache were the most frequently reported illnesses, commonly used drugs were antipyretics and analgesics, obtained information through reading material, and reasons quoted were minor ailments and quick relief. Majority students agreed that medical knowledge is necessary for administration of medicine by self. Self-medication is highly prevalent in medical students, which is quite alarming.
