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Perception and practices of self medication of antibiotics among undergraduate students of a medical college

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Original Article

Author Details : Pradeep Kumar, Meena KN

Volume : 4, Issue : 2, Year : 2017

Article Page : 101-104

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Abstract

Background: the study was conducted to analyze the perceptions regarding self medication of antibiotics among medical students and to determine the practice of antibiotic self-medication among medical students.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study which was conducted among the second year, third year and final year medical students of Rajarajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Karnataka. The data obtained was analyzed using descriptive statistics and were expressed in proportions and percentages.
Results: Among 341 undergraduates participated in the study, 223(65.39%) were female and 118(34.60%) were male. The prevalence of self-medication among the medical students was 273(81.25%), whereas 63(18.75%) said that they don’t follow or encourage self-medication. The most important indication for antibiotic self-medication was sore throat (60.43) followed by fever (44.68) and diarrhea (39.56). The most common class of antibiotic self-medicated was Penicillin group (46.15%) followed by fluoroquinolones (31.13%).
Conclusions: our questionnaire based study reveals a higher prevalence of self-medication of antibiotics among the undergraduate facilitated by easy availability of drugs and information from textbook. The major and important reason for misuse of antibiotics is lack of proper knowledge on antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. It is important to spread the information and knowledge about antibiotic misuse by self-medication and its consequent effects. Hence, incorporating a special course on rational prescription of antibiotics becomes necessary that can emphasizes more on the advantages and disadvantages of self-medication rather than advance of knowledge alone.

Keywords: Antibiotics, Self-Medication, Undergraduate Students

How to cite : Kumar P, Meena Kn, Perception and practices of self medication of antibiotics among undergraduate students of a medical college. Indian J Pharm Pharmacol 2017;4(2):101-104

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