Self-Medication Among Pharmacy Students: A Cross-Sectional Study on Prevalence, Patterns, and Determinants

Muhammad Shahzad Ishfaq; Muhammad Faisal; Muhammad Hassan Raza Durrani; Muhammad Danish

doi:10.61919/3dp78623

Authors

Muhammad Shahzad Ishfaq Shahida Islam Medical College, Lodhran, Pakistan Author
Muhammad Faisal Shahida Islam Medical College, Lodhran, Pakistan Author
Muhammad Hassan Raza Durrani Shahida Islam Medical College, Lodhran, Pakistan Author
Muhammad Danish Shahida Islam Medical College, Lodhran, Pakistan Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61919/3dp78623

Keywords:

Self-medication; pharmacy students; antibiotics; antimicrobial resistance; cross-sectional study; Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Constraint-induced movement therapy is used to improve upper-limb recovery after stroke, Background: Self-medication is common among university students, particularly those enrolled in health-related disciplines. Pharmacy students may be more likely to self-medicate because academic exposure to pharmacology and therapeutics can increase confidence in selecting medicines without professional consultation. Inappropriate self-medication, especially antibiotic use without prescription, may contribute to adverse drug reactions, delayed treatment, drug interactions, and antimicrobial resistance. Objective: To determine the prevalence, patterns, reasons, medication classes, sources of information, and socio-demographic associations of self-medication among pharmacy students at Shahida Islam Medical College, Lodhran, Pakistan. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 263 pharmacy students using a structured questionnaire. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Frequencies and percentages were calculated, and chi-square tests were used to assess associations between self-medication practice and selected socio-demographic variables. Results: Self-medication was reported by 165 students, giving a prevalence of 62.7%. Physicians were the most frequently reported source of medication information (63.1%). The leading reasons were prior experience with illness (64.6%), drug availability (60.1%), and saving time (57.0%). Headache (74.5%) and common cold (71.9%) were the most frequently reported conditions, while common cold medicines (67.3%) and antibiotics (65.4%) were the most frequently reported medication classes. No statistically significant association was found between self-medication and age, gender, marital status, residence, habitation, or health insurance status. Conclusion: Self-medication was common among pharmacy students, with frequent reported antibiotic use highlighting a public health concern. Educational interventions, antimicrobial stewardship training, and stronger prescription-only medicine regulation are needed

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