https://imcjms.com Ibrahim Medical College Journal of Medical Science https://imcjms.com/registration/journal_full_text/292 Tue, 19 Jun 2018 13:45:44 +0000 Abstract Background and objectives: Self-medication is commonly practiced throughout the world. The aim of this study was to ascertain the use prevalence and knowledge of harmful effects of self-medication among college students of health professions and non-health professions. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed among 1,167 students from 12 faculties of a public university and two private universities in Kuwait. Data were collected using a self-administered pretested questionnaire containing 32 questions. Results: Among the participants, 70.4% (822/1,167) used self-medication. The prevalence of self-medication was significantly higher among students of non-health professions compared with those of health professions (35.9% vs. 25.9%, p = 0.004, 95% CI, 6.28% to 13.73%, respectively). Pain killer medicines (52.9%), vitamins/minerals (13.1%), and antihistamines (9.0%) were the most commonly used non-prescription medications. Antibiotics and sleeping pills were used without a prescription in 2.9% and 2.1%, respectively. Older age, non-Kuwaiti national, and students of 5th to 7th year of study were significant predictors of self-medication. Knowledge scores of harmful effects of self-medication were about two-fold higher among females than their male counterparts. Similarly, students of higher years of study (5th to 7th year) had higher knowledge score compared with others. Conclusions: The prevalence of self-medication was alarmingly high among young adults in Kuwait. People should be informed about adverse effects of self-medication through mass and social media campaign. IMC J Med Sci 2018; 12(2): 57-68. EPub date: 19 June 2018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/imcjms.v12i2.39662 Address for Correspondence: Prof. Amal K. Mitra, Professor of Epidemiology, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Jackson State University, 350 W. Woodrow Wilson Dr., PO Box 17038, Jackson, MS 39213, E-mail: amal.k.mitra@jsums.edu   Introduction Self-medication is an increasing public health problem worldwide [1]. Self-medication is the selection and use of medicines by individuals to treat self-recognized illnesses or symptoms, as defined by the World Health Organization [2]. Self-medication is often due to the use of non-prescription medicines, commonly known as over-the-counter (OTC) medication. However, there are reports of indiscriminate use of prescription medications including antibiotics [3]. Unfortunately, a vast number of users of self-medication take medications without being fully informed about the associated risks, contraindications and adverse effects. Moreover, indiscriminate use of non-prescription medicines can interfere with desired treatment and result in harmful side effects [4]. Self-medication is common in low and middle-income countries. In the developing countries, inadequacies in the healthcare delivery systems including inadequate doctor-patient ratio, high cost of prescription medicines, lack of education, unregulated distribution of medicines, untrained medicine sellers in the pharmacy, and patient attitudes towards government health facilities and physicians are some of the key drivers of self-medication [5,6]. In a systematic review of 34 studies in 31,340 participants in developing countries, the overall prevalence of antimicrobial self-medication was 38.8%, which varied widely from as low as 4.0% in Yemen to as high as 91.4% in Nigeria [5]. It was also common in using antibiotics in viral infections, especially in the Middle East [7] and in Asia [8]. As a result, antimicrobial-resistance is becoming more prevalent in areas with frequent non-prescription use [9]. Prevalence of non-prescription medication varies according to geographic location and the demographics of the population. Among 183 undergraduate medical students in Nigeria, 38.8% used self-medication in the preceding two months of the study [10]. In a cross-sectional study of 1,200 students randomly selected from nine public and private universities in Bangladesh, 54.5% used analgesic/antipyretic medicines, and 49.8% took antibiotics as self-medication [11]. In New Delhi, India, the prevalence of self-medication was very high (85.4%) among college students despite majority being aware of the harmful effects of it [12]. Even among the undergraduate medical students the prevalence of self-medication was 75.3% among males and 81.2% among females in India [13]. A similarly high prevalence (84.0%) of self-medication was observed among undergraduate nursing students in India [14]. In another study of the medicines dispensed in pharmacies in Bangalore, India, 66.7% (174/261) pharmacies dispensed antimicrobials without a valid prescription [15]. The prevalence of self-medication was 69.2% (465/672) in a cross-sectional study in Italy [16]. In a rural population in Greece, 44.6% used antibiotics without medical prescription at least once in their life time [17]. The use of non-prescription medication is more common in females, younger individuals, or people who had a health problem in the past year [16]. However, younger aged users are more likely to abuse and develop dependence on non-prescription medication [20]. Many studies have revealed that lack of access to health care system, long delay of medical care, and the easy availability of OTC has contributed significantly to rising trends of self-medications [21]. It is also believed that self-medication trends are economically driven [22]. In Kuwait, government-run health clinics and hospitals provide healthcare services at no out-of-pocket cost for Kuwaitis and at a minimum fee for non-Kuwaiti nationals. It is important to explore reasons for a high prevalence of self-medication despite government-run low-cost health services in Kuwait. The previous studies were conducted among secondary school students [23] and among undergraduate medical students in Kuwait [1]. In this study, we aimed to: 1) determine the prevalence of self-medication use among college students, 2) compare the practice of self-medication between students from health faculties and those with non-health faculties, 3) identify the reasons for using non-prescription medication and 4) demonstrate the predictors of knowledge and practice of self-medication. Our hypothesis was that students of health-profession background would be better equipped with knowledge about problems of indiscriminate use of medicines without a prescription, and would practice self-medication less often compared to students with non-health background. 2026 Ibrahim Medical College. All rights reserved.