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counter (OTC) medications - which in

Research Briefs
turn promote self-medication. The most
commonly available OTC medications
Self medication among are pain-killers, cough and cold
remedies, anti-allergy medicines,
university students of vitamins and energy tonics. Although
Islamabad, Pakistan - a these medications are considered risk-
free and useful for the treatment of
Preliminary Study
common health problems, their

Azhar Hussain1, Asifa Khanum2 excessive use can also lead to serious
side-effects and unfavorable reactions.
1Hamdard Institute of Pharmaceutical In Pakistan, the problems of OTC use

Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan outlined above are magnified by the fact

that almost all prescription-only
2Independent Consultant, Islamabad, medications are also available OTC
Pakistan. without a doctor’s prescription.
E-mail: azhar_26@yahoo.com However, very few studies addressing
the issue of self-medication have been
Key words: Pakistan, self medication, students carried out in Pakistani context.

Citation: Hussain A, Khanum A. Self Study background:

medication among university students of
Islamabad, Pakistan- a preliminary study. The objective of this study was to
Southern Med Review (2008) 1; 1:14-16
evaluate the prevalence of self-
Introduction medication among under-graduate
students in Islamabad. A cross sectional
Self-medication is 1(1):1-1
. Southern Med Review, the use of study was designed and a convenience
nonprescription medicines by people sample of 50 students was selected
through using their own initiative 1. It from (1) Comsats University, (2) Baharia
has also been defined as obtaining and University, (3) Air University and (4)
consuming medication without Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of
professional supervision, which Science & Technology (SZABIST).
comprises of acquiring medicines Students representing the departments
without a prescription, purchasing drugs of engineering and management
by resubmitting/ reutilizing an old sciences, willing to participate and who
prescription, taking medicines on advice used at least two doses of any medicine
of relative or others, or consuming left- during the last six months were
over medicines already available at included in the study.
home 2. A questionnaire was developed to
Recent development of the collect data on self-medication, type of
pharmaceutical industry contributes to a medicines used, source of information
widespread availability of over-the-

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Vol 1 Issue 1 Southern Med Review 2008

about the drugs, and reasons of self of minor ailments. Self medication
medication. makes consumer more health conscious,
reduces treatment burden on health
Results care facilities and curtails the cost and
time of gaining access to treatment. On
It was found that out of total 200 the other hand, self medication
students (females: 41, males: 159), self- increases risks such as excessive use of
medication among female students was medication, extended duration of
41.5% and males was 42.1% with an consumption, incorrect diagnosis, drug
overall average of 42%. The prevalence interactions and polypharmacy.
of self-medication among engineering The prevalence of self-medication
students was 43% whereas it was 41% in among university students has been
the students of management sciences. reported as 45% in Turkey 3, 88% in
Amongst 84 students who self Croatia 4 and 94% in Hong Kong 5. A
medicated, the most common source of study undertaken in 1995 6 in Pakistan
drug information was advertisements determined that the prevalence rate of
(35.7%). Previous history of the use of self-medication was 51% and a recent
the same medication (23.8%) and advice survey calculated the prevalence of self
by salesman (other than qualified medication among university students in
pharmacist) at drug store (23.8%) were Karachi as 76%2.
the other main sources. Advice from Prevalence of self-medication among
family, friends or relatives influenced university students from Islamabad is
16.7% students to self-medicate. In case not as high as that reported for students
of minor ailments, nearly 34.7% from Karachi; however 41% prevalence
students prefer treating themselves. rate still signals the need for policy and
Twenty six percent (26%) of the regulatory interventions.
students mentioned that they consume A previous history of using the same
the same medicines for the same illness medication or adequate past experience
(without referring to the physician) if with the medicines for any particular
they have previously been satisfied with symptom were the most commonly
the outcome. Among reasons to self reported drivers for self-medication in
medicate were lack of time (24%) and Pakistan2,6. Wide advertisement of
self medication as a cheaper source of medicines and consulting with
treatment (14.7%). Most commonly nonqualified salespersons at pharmacy
consumed medicines were modern carries the risk of erroneous judgment
drugs (93.5%), homeopathic drugs which ultimately can increase the
(4.5%) and herbal medicines (2%). possibility of experiencing different
after-effects of medicines.
Discussion
Conclusions & Recommendation
On the one hand self-medication gives
more freedom to patients in taking care

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Vol 1 Issue 1 Southern Med Review 2008

The prevalence of self medication

among university students was found to 3. Buke C, Limoncu M, Ermevtcan S,
be around 40% which is quite high. Ciceklioglu M, Tuncel M, Kose T, et al,
Strict measures are needed to Irrational use of antibiotics among
monitor advertisements of medicines university students. J Infect 2005, 51,
both in print and electronic media. The 135-9.
possibility of having access to medicines
not listed as OTC drugs should be 4. Vucic VA, Trkulja V, Lackovic Z.
minimized by taking appropriate Content of home pharmacies and self-
monitoring measures including medication practices in households of
implementing effective legislation. pharmacy and medical students in
There is also a need to explore the Zagreb, Croatia: findings in 2001 with a
possibility of developing partnerships reference to 1977. Croat Med J 2005,
between physicians, pharmacists and 46, 74-80.
consumers to educate and disseminate
information on self-medication so that 5. Lau GS, Lee KK, Luk CT. Self-
threats can be minimized. medication among university students in
Also, this is a preliminary study and Hong Kong. Asia Pac J Public Health
more in-depth studies are required to 1995, 8, 153-7.
evaluate the situation.
6. Haider S, Thaver IH. Self medication
References: or self care: implication for primary
1.World Self Medication Industry health care strategies. J Pak Med Assoc
http://www.wsmi.org/pdf/fip.pdf (last 1995, 45, 297-8.
accessed on June 26, 2008)
Acknowledgment
2. Zafar SN, Reema S, Sana W, Akbar JZ, We thank Mr. Taimoor Fazil who was a
Talha V, Mahrine S, Wajeeha Y, Saman S, student at the Hamdard Institute of
Sarah S. Self medication amongst Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hamdard
university students of Karachi: University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
prevalence, knowledge and attitudes. J
Pak Med Assoc 2008, 58, 214-17.

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