Self-Medication among First and Second Year MBBS Students in Nashik

Abstract

Background: Medical students may recognise the risks of self-medication yet continue to use medicines without consultation. We assessed self-medication during the preceding three months and compared knowledge and attitudes among first- and second-year MBBS students.

Methods: This institution-based cross-sectional survey included 121 questionnaires meeting recorded consent and completeness criteria. Prevalence was estimated with a Wilson 95% confidence interval. Knowledge was scored out of ten; attitude statements and practice items were analysed individually. Academic-year comparisons used Fisher exact and Welch tests. Practice patterns were described among students reporting recent self-medication.

Results: Sixty-two students reported self-medication (51.2%; 95% CI 42.4–60.0%). Prevalence was 53.6% in first-year and 49.2% in second-year students (p=0.716). Complete knowledge scores were higher in the second year (8.82 ± 1.49 versus 5.33 ± 2.84; mean difference 3.48, 95% CI 2.63–4.34). Most respondents agreed that antibiotics should not be taken without prescription (93/121, 76.9%). Among recent self-medicators, 33/62 (53.2%) selected analgesics and 7/62 (11.3%) selected antibiotics. Thirteen of 60 answering the adverse reaction item (21.7%) reported an adverse reaction.

Conclusion: Self-medication was reported by approximately half of respondents. Second-year students had higher knowledge scores, but recent self-medication prevalence did not differ clearly between years. Teaching should address specific misconceptions and the decisions involved in safe medicine use. These findings do not establish the appropriateness of individual self-medication episodes.