Prevalence of self-medication practice among health sciences students in Kermanshah, Iran
Abstract Background The possibility of self-medication is higher in health sciences students than other students because of easy access to drug information resources and relatively sufficient familiarity with various kinds of drugs. The current study was aimed to determine the prevalence of self-med...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40360-018-0231-4 |
| _version_ | 1818143232096206848 |
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| author | Alireza Abdi Azam Faraji Fateme Dehghan Alireza Khatony |
| author_facet | Alireza Abdi Azam Faraji Fateme Dehghan Alireza Khatony |
| author_sort | Alireza Abdi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The possibility of self-medication is higher in health sciences students than other students because of easy access to drug information resources and relatively sufficient familiarity with various kinds of drugs. The current study was aimed to determine the prevalence of self-medication and its related factors among the health sciences students. Methods A total of 250 health sciences students were included in this cross-sectional study via random sampling. Data were collected by a researcher-made self-medication questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS-20 software using descriptive and inferential statistics (chi-square test). Results The prevalence of self-medication was 89.6%. Prior experience about the illness, non-seriousness of the illness and availability of drugs were the most prevalent reasons for self-medication. The most commonly used medications included common cold drugs, analgesics and antibiotics. The most frequently used medications were cold pill, acetaminophen pill and amoxicillin capsule. Most students obtained their pharmaceutical information from the pharmacist physician and online sources. Self-medication did not show a significant difference in terms of variables such as age, gender, marital status, insurance status and residence. Conclusion Given the high prevalence of self-medication among the health sciences students, training courses about the self-medication risks, more supervision over prohibition of over-the-counter drugs and adequate facilities for students’ access to medical services are suggested to be provided. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T11:28:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5e877bc1962844d195d039dbfd37a5a3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-6511 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T11:28:23Z |
| publishDate | 2018-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology |
| spelling | doaj.art-5e877bc1962844d195d039dbfd37a5a32022-12-22T01:08:57ZengBMCBMC Pharmacology and Toxicology2050-65112018-07-011911710.1186/s40360-018-0231-4Prevalence of self-medication practice among health sciences students in Kermanshah, IranAlireza Abdi0Azam Faraji1Fateme Dehghan2Alireza Khatony3Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kermanshah University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kermanshah University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kermanshah University of Medical SciencesSocial Development and Health Promotion Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background The possibility of self-medication is higher in health sciences students than other students because of easy access to drug information resources and relatively sufficient familiarity with various kinds of drugs. The current study was aimed to determine the prevalence of self-medication and its related factors among the health sciences students. Methods A total of 250 health sciences students were included in this cross-sectional study via random sampling. Data were collected by a researcher-made self-medication questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS-20 software using descriptive and inferential statistics (chi-square test). Results The prevalence of self-medication was 89.6%. Prior experience about the illness, non-seriousness of the illness and availability of drugs were the most prevalent reasons for self-medication. The most commonly used medications included common cold drugs, analgesics and antibiotics. The most frequently used medications were cold pill, acetaminophen pill and amoxicillin capsule. Most students obtained their pharmaceutical information from the pharmacist physician and online sources. Self-medication did not show a significant difference in terms of variables such as age, gender, marital status, insurance status and residence. Conclusion Given the high prevalence of self-medication among the health sciences students, training courses about the self-medication risks, more supervision over prohibition of over-the-counter drugs and adequate facilities for students’ access to medical services are suggested to be provided.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40360-018-0231-4Self-medicationPrevalenceStudents |
| spellingShingle | Alireza Abdi Azam Faraji Fateme Dehghan Alireza Khatony Prevalence of self-medication practice among health sciences students in Kermanshah, Iran BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology Self-medication Prevalence Students |
| title | Prevalence of self-medication practice among health sciences students in Kermanshah, Iran |
| title_full | Prevalence of self-medication practice among health sciences students in Kermanshah, Iran |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence of self-medication practice among health sciences students in Kermanshah, Iran |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence of self-medication practice among health sciences students in Kermanshah, Iran |
| title_short | Prevalence of self-medication practice among health sciences students in Kermanshah, Iran |
| title_sort | prevalence of self medication practice among health sciences students in kermanshah iran |
| topic | Self-medication Prevalence Students |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40360-018-0231-4 |
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