Research Journal of Pharmacology
ISSN: Online 1993-6019ISSN: Print 1815-9362
Abstract
Lockdown during COVID‐19 pandemic, made access to healthcare services difficult because of which people resorted to self‐medicating themselves. The study was planned to determine the reasons for opting selfmedication by medical students who have background knowledge and easy access to healthcare and medications. It was an observational cross sectional study, conducted by circulating a google form among undergraduate and postgraduate medical students. We obtained a total number 402 responses. The responses were collecting after obtaining their informed consent and approval from institutional ethics committee. Results were compiled and observations were made based on them. We found that out of the 402 responses, 92.5 % were aware about the term self‐medication. 85.3% of the participants practiced self‐medication during lockdown period. The most common reason for self‐medication was that the OPDs were closed during lockdown. Self‐medication was based on the previous experience with medicines in 84.6% of the participants. More than half the participants had shared their prescriptions with others for treating their health conditions. Most common indication and drug used for self‐medication was fever and antipyretic respectively. 72.9% participants were aware that drugs can cause long term complications. 83.3% were unaware about contraindications of medications. Most common side effects experienced were nausea, diarrhea, drowsiness and rashes. A large number of medical students practiced self‐medication during COVID 19 lockdown period. Awareness level regarding knowledge about contraindications, long term complications and adverse effects and right practices related to selfmedication need to be improved.
How to cite this article:
Aman Tiwari, Mohini Sharma and Rajeshwari Gore. To Study the Practice of Self‐Medication Among Medical Students During the COVID 19 Pandemic.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36478/10.36478/makrjp.2024.4.10.15
URL: https://www.makhillpublications.co/view-article/1815-9362/10.36478/makrjp.2024.4.10.15