To Determine the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Self-Medication Among First-Year Under Graduate Business Students

Objective : This study was undertaken to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice of self-medication among

first-year under graduate business students of 3 universities in South India. Subjects and Methods: Out of the 1017

respondents, 605 (59.48 %) were male and 412 (40.52%) were female respondents. This was an anonymous,

questionnaire-based, descriptive study. Questionnaire, containing open-ended and close-ended questions, was

administered to the subjects. Data were analyzed and the results expressed as counts and percentages. Results: Of

the 1017 respondents, 815 (80.13%) practiced self medication. The respondents' knowledge about appropriate selfmedication

was poor, but knowledge of the benefits of self-medication was adequate. The respondents found selfmedication

to be time-saving, economical, convenient and providing quick relief in common illnesses. The majority

(85%) of the respondents had a positive attitude favoring self-medication. The most common indications for self

medication were headache (35%), fever (36%), and cough, cold and sore throat (20%). Conclusion: Knowledge

about appropriate self-medication was poor, attitude towards self-medication was positive and the practice of selfmedication

was quite high and often inappropriate. Educating students in particular and the public at large, about

the dangers of indiscriminate use of drugs; the physicians being more judicious in prescribing and also insisting on

drugs being supplied by the chemist only on a valid prescription; implementation of a proper statutory drug control

rationally restricting the availability of drugs to the public are the three measures suggested by the study.

International Journal of Enterprise and Innovation Management Studies (IJEIMS) Vol. 1 No. 3

The reasons for self medication mentioned in the literature are mild illness, previous experience of treating similar

illness, economic considerations and a lack of availability of healthcare personnel. The most common medications used

for self medication are analgesics and antimicrobials (Hughes, 2001 & Shankar et al., 2002). Another study on self

medication shows that it is influenced by many factors such as education, family, society, law, availability of drugs and

exposure to advertisements (Monastruc JL, 1997 & Habeed, 1993). A high level of education and professional status has

been mentioned as predictive factor for self medication (Martins, 2002).

II. SUBJECTS AND METHODS

This study was an anonymous, questionnaire-based survey, undertaken between September to November 2010.

A self-developed, pre-validated questionnaire consisting of both open-ended and close-ended items was used. The

study population comprised of first-year Under Graduate Business students of University of Madras, Chennai,

Thiruvalluvar University, Vellore and Bharathiar Univeristy, Coimbatore. Students pursuing B.Com., and B.B.A., in 10

colleges affiliated to each of the 3 universities were the respondents of the study. These were young men and women

who had recently joined the Arts & Science College. All first-year business students who were willing to participate in

the study were enrolled. A briefing was given about the nature of the study, and the procedure of completing the

questionnaire was explained. Consenting participants anonymously completed the questionnaire in the classroom.

For the purpose of the study, certain operational terms were defined. Self-medication was defined as the use of

over-the-counter or non prescription drugs, whether modern or traditional, for self-treatment, without prior consultation

with a doctor. A doctor was defined as any person who is medically qualified to prescribe medications. It included

practitioners of modern scientific medicine as well as practitioners of other healthcare systems. Medication was defined

as any substance used for treatment or prevention of disease. It included modern scientific medications as well as

medications from other healthcare systems.

Samples of 1189 students were selected randomly from the colleges affiliated to the three institutions of South

India. The inclusion criteria for the selection of students was 17 years and above. Out of all, 172 students were excluded

in accordance with the exclusion criteria like incomplete information. The questionnaire consisted of questions on

reason for self medication, indications of self medication, source of drug information etc. The results are based upon the

data obtained from 1017 (85.5%) students. The prevalence of self medication was reported as percentages. The survey

was descriptive and data was summarized as counts and percentages, some of the questions had multiple options to

choose from.

III. RESULTS

(A) Baseline characteristics of participants

All the students (n=1189) responded to the questionnaire, of whom 172 were excluded in accordance with the

exclusion criteria like incomplete information. Remaining 1017 (85.5%) students' questionnaire were considered for

evaluation.

Perception

The respondents perceived several advantages of self-medication (Table 1). The most important