Title:Perception and Practices of Self-medication Practices among Health Science
Students during the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic in Mangalore, India
Volume: 19
Issue: 1
Author(s): Nitin Joseph*Jeniya Jain
Affiliation:
- Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education,
Manipal, Karnataka, India
Keywords:
Self-medication, practice, perception, determinants, health science students, COVID-19 pandemic.
Abstract:
Introduction: Health science students are prone to self-medication due to easy accessibility
to medicines, background medical knowledge, and their ability to diagnose illnesses. The ongoing
COVID-19 pandemic has further encouraged this practice due to the fear of contracting the
virus by visiting healthcare establishments.
Objectives: This study was conducted to assess the perception and practices of self-medication
among health science students during the background of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in July 2021 during the second wave of
COVID-19. Data were collected using a Microsoft form circulated among students using
WhatsApp or email.
Results: The mean age of the 350 participants was 20.8 ± 1.5 years. About 165(47.1%) participants
had self-medicated over the past one year. The most common mode of self-medication was
using previous consultation notes [121(73.3%)]. The most common reason for self-medication
stated was the mild nature of the illness [131(79.4%)]. Fifteen (9.1%) participants reported changes
in medication from one to another during self-medication. Sixteen (9.7%) participants increased
drug dosage during self-medication. Sixteen (26.2%) out of 61 participants who self-medicated
with antibiotics did not complete the course. Forty-six (27.9%) out of the 165 participants were not
aware of the adverse effects of the drugs being self-medicated on most occasions. One hundred and
sixty seven (47.7%) of the total participants did not feel that self-medication practices are harmful.
Ninety-five (27.1%) felt that self-medication practices are acceptable during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eighty-six (90.5%) of them thought so to avoid getting COVID-19 infection by visiting
healthcare establishments. In multivariable analysis, participants in the final year and those with
chronic morbidities were associated with self-medication practices.
Conclusion: Self-medication practices were present among 47.1% of participants. More than onefourth
of them were not aware of the side effects of self-medicated drugs on most occasions. About
47.7% participants felt that self-medication practices are not harmful and more than one-fourth of
them felt that it was acceptable during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the students need to be
made aware of the harmful consequences of self-medication.
