Utilization pattern of Self Medication among Allied Health Undergraduates with focus on Knowledge and Attitudes

Abstract

Self-medication (SM) is a common practice among university students as a part of self-care. Allied Health Science (AHS) students may have different behaviors and views on SM, as they expose to medication knowledge more comparing to other university students. Sri Lanka lacks such evidence and this cross sectional study was performed to evaluate the practice of SM among AHS undergraduates along with their knowledge and attitudes. A self-administered questionnaire was administered among 233 AHS undergraduates of University of Ruhuna. The prevalence of SM among AHS undergraduates was found as the 93.1%. 1st year and Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS) undergraduates had higher prevalence of SM. Antipyretics and vitamins were the most commonly reported types of medications consumed which were obtained from pharmacies most frequently. Headache and fever were commonly reported ailments for SM. The major reasons indicated for SM were to save time and prior experience of the illness while using the academic knowledge as the source of information. Most of the undergraduates had high and moderate level of knowledge with positive attitudes. Degree programme was associated with prevalence of SM and level of knowledge on SM. Rise of awareness of the undergraduates on implications of medications was suggested by most of the students significantly. This study revealed SM as a common practice among AHS undergraduates as a part of self-care and they practice SM with high level of knowledge and positive attitudes.