A cross-sectional survey: knowledge, attitudes, and practices of self-medication in medical and pharmacy students

Alduraibi, Razan Khalid; Altowayan, Waleed Mohammad

doi:10.1186/s12913-022-07704-0

Table 4 Students’ practices toward self-medication (n = 316)

From: A cross-sectional survey: knowledge, attitudes, and practices of self-medication in medical and pharmacy students

Question		n	%
1- Did you practice SM in the last 6 months?	Yes	202	63.9
1- Did you practice SM in the last 6 months?	No	114	36.1
2- How frequently did you visit the pharmacy to purchase drugs without a prescription for yourself in the last 6 Months?	Once	153	48.4
	Twice	65	20.6
	Three times	60	19.0
	Four times	16	5.1
	Five times	3	0.9
	More than five times	19	6.0
3- Do you know if the medicines you consumed needed prescription or not?	Yes	250	79.1
	No	33	10.4
	I don’t know	33	10.4
4- Which of the following drugs have you taken without prescription during the last 6 months?	Pain killers	279	88.29
	Antibiotics	110	34.81
	antipyretics	157	49.68
	Antihistamines	116	36.71
	Cough syrups	42	13.29
	Cold and flu preparations	59	18.67
	Antacid drugs	30	9.49
	Drugs for constipation	42	13.29
	Drugs for diarrhea	9	2.85
	Anti-emetics	12	3.8
	Nasal/Ear/Eye drops	100	31.65
	Topical agents (skin treatment	96	30.38
	Nutritional/energy supplements	92	29.11
	Herbs	69	21.84
5- For which of the following indications have you taken medications without prescription during the last 6 months?	I do not take	199	62.97
	Headache	204	64.56
	Cough & common cold	110	34.81
	Fever	98	31.01
	Infection	22	6.96
	Heart burn	23	7.28
	Allergy	47	14.87
	Disorder of digestive system	37	11.71
	Body pain	66	20.89
	Tooth pain	41	12.97
	Acne/skin diseases	90	28.48
	Menstrual problems	78	24.68
	Insomnia	22	6.96
6- Source of Information About SM	Relatives	68	21.52
	Friends	32	10.13
	Personal knowledge	205	64.87
	Multi media	84	26.58
	Advised by Doctors but without prescription	114	36.08
	Pharmacists or those working in the pharmacy	160	50.63
7- What do you know about the drug you requested?	Name of the drug	275	87.03
	Indication	237	75
	Dose	216	68.35
	How to use	246	77.85
	Frequency	200	63.29
	Duration	183	57.91
	Storage of the drug at home	158	50
8- Do you know the potential adverse reactions of the drug with which you self-medicated?	Yes	219	69.3
	No	57	18.0
	I don’t know	40	12.7
9- From where did you SM?	Pharmacy	298	94.3
	Street market	14	4.43
	Herbal store	38	12.03
	Relative/friend	28	8.86
10- Reasons for SM	To save money	49	15.51
	To save time	145	45.89
	Privacy	33	10.44
	Needed quick relief	201	63.61
	No hospital nearby	36	11.39
	Previous experience	158	50
	Health problem not serious	212	67.09
	Embarrassed of discussing own symptoms	8	2.53
11- Have you ever experienced a negative side effect after SM?	Yes	71	22.5
	No	245	77.5
If yes	Drug side effects	49	69.01
	Disease recurrence	12	16.9
	Resistance to drug	9	12.68
	Drug interactions	8	11.27
12- Do you feel confident with the use of SM?	Yes	246	77.8
12- Do you feel confident with the use of SM?	No	70	22.2

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