Self-medication of analgesics and antibiotics in medical students

Abstract

Objective: Self-medication is a common practice among university students worldwide. It is also common among medical students and has been associated, in the case of nonsteroid, antiinflamatory drugs, with renal, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal adverse effects and multidrug-resistance in the case of antibiotics. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics and analgesics in undergraduate medical students and to characterize the attitudes, knowledge, and practices related to this behavior.

Methodology: Cross-sectional study. 625 undergraduate medical students from a private university in Medellín, Colombia participated. A 45-question survey was designed. The dependent variable was self-medication of antibiotics and analgesics. Proportions and means with their dispersion measurements were obtained. We explored possible associations between the practice of self-medication, gender, and the training semester. Significant value was taken as p  <0.05.

Results: The survey was taken by 625 undergraduate medical students, that is, 58% of all students. Of these, 67% were women. The female to male ratio was 2:1. The median age was 20 years (interquartile range: 3). The prevalence of self-medication with analgesics was 84% for women and 81% for men, while with antibiotics it was 28% for women and 21% for men. 90.1% of students expressed that practicing self-medication was unsafe; likewise, 93% of students recognized that self-medication with antibiotics produces antimicrobial resistance. Regardless, 78.6% said they would continue to self-treat.

Discussion: Self-medication with analgesics and antibiotics is a common and complex behavior in undergraduate medical students. While they are aware of the risks involved in this practice, most are not willing to change it.