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Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: Self-medication with antibiotics, with greater prevalence in low and middle-income countries, is a global health issue leading to antimicrobial resistance and is even seen in medical students. Ease of access to medicine without prescriptions, a cultural norm, insufficient regulatory oversight, and using antibiotics for viral infections have led to increased resistance. Improper use of antibiotics by medical students is alarming as it shows the disregard of principles learned during training. So educational interventions targeting medical students are important for fostering responsible prescribing habits in future physicians.
Objectives: This study aims to investigate the prevalence, knowledge, and attitude of medical students towards antibiotic use, determine the risk factors and reasons for self-medication with antibiotics and find out the reasons for practicing self-medication with antibiotics.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study collected data from undergraduate medical students of Rawalpindi Medical University using non-random consecutive sampling. A structured, validated questionnaire was designed using Google Forms comprising 34 items, divided into eight sections: sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, practice, most commonly used non-prescribed antibiotics, symptoms treated with non-prescription antibiotics, reasons for adopting self-medication and source of these medications. Data was analyzed using SPSS, version 27.0. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the demographic data. Percentage, frequency, mean, and standard deviation were calculated for knowledge and attitude scores. Associations between knowledge and attitude scores with demographic factors were analyzed using the t-test and ANOVA. At the same time, the Chi-square test was employed to explore relationships between categorical scores and other variables. A p-value of less than 0.05 was deemed statistically significant.
Results: A total of 460 questionnaires were filled with a mean knowledge score of 6.00 ± 1.709. 42% of the population's score was in the moderate range (N=194/460). The mean attitude score of the population was 6.55 ± 1.879 lying in the moderate range. Knowledge and attitude was significantly related to year of study with final year students having the highest knowledge scores. Gender and living status were also significantly associated (p<0.05).72.5% of the population had stored antibiotics at home with Amoxicillin clavulanic acid 29.7% being the most commonly used antibiotic for self medication followed by azithromycin 19.1% and were usually used for treating the symptoms of sore throat 24.3%, cough 18.6% and common cold 17.3%.The topmost reason for the use of antibiotics was previous experience with antibiotics 59% with the source being community pharmacies 52.7%.
Conclusion: A high rate of self-medication with antibiotics was observed in medical students with most of them having moderate knowledge and attitude scores. The high prevalence of self-medication indicates easy accessibility and limited knowledge regarding laws of prescription on antibiotics at the level of pharmacists.
Keywords: Knowledge, practice, self-medication, antibiotics, medical students