Table 4.
Students’ practices toward self-medication (n = 316)
| Question | n | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1- Did you practice SM in the last 6 months? | Yes | 202 | 63.9 |
| 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 |
| No | 70 | 22.2 | |