Knowledge, attitude, and practice of self-medication among undergraduate medical students in an Institute of National Importance in North India

Sachchidanand Tewari; Anirudh Mukherjee; Gaurav Kumar Upadhyay

doi:10.5455/njppp.2023.13.09451202301112023

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Original Research
Online Published: 14 Nov 2023

Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. 2023; 13(12): 2464-2469

doi: 10.5455/njppp.2023.13.09451202301112023

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of self-medication among undergraduate medical students in an Institute of National Importance in North India

Sachchidanand Tewari, Anirudh Mukherjee, Gaurav Kumar Upadhyay.

Abstract
Background: According to previous studies, self-medication is becoming increasingly common among medical undergraduates. Only a few studies, however, have been undertaken in Northern India.

Aims and Objectives: The current study set out to evaluate the undergraduate medical students’ knowledge, attitude, and practice of self-medication, as well as to look into any variations in knowledge and attitude (if any) among different subgroups of participants.

Materials and Methods: This was a questionnaire-based, descriptive study. The individuals (n = 137) were given a pre-validated questionnaire that included open- and closed-ended questions. IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software (version 26) was used to conduct the data analysis, and the findings are presented as counts and percentages.

Results: The incidence of self-medication was 58.4%, which was very high. The most common reason for this was its usefulness for fever (91.2%). Antipyretics (82.5%), analgesics (63.7%), and antacids (48.7%) were the most regularly utilized drug groups. Seniors, classmates, and family members were the most prevalent sources of information. Common ailments included fever (91.2%), common cold, and cough (55%). Ironically, 41.6% of those surveyed opined that self-medication should be avoided.

Conclusion: Self-medication is more widespread among medical undergraduates, suggesting that they are more exposed to drug side effects than the general population. Medical students are supposed to be trained to be made aware of the need to avoid self-medication; hence, action needs to be taken.

Key words: Questionnaire; Self-medication; Practice; Attitude; Knowledge; Undergraduate; Medical Students

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Pubmed Style

Tewari S, Mukherjee A, Upadhyay GK. Knowledge, attitude, and practice of self-medication among undergraduate medical students in an Institute of National Importance in North India. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. 2023; 13(12): 2464-2469. doi:10.5455/njppp.2023.13.09451202301112023

Web Style

Tewari S, Mukherjee A, Upadhyay GK. Knowledge, attitude, and practice of self-medication among undergraduate medical students in an Institute of National Importance in North India. https://www.njppp.com/?mno=169537 [Access: February 12, 2025]. doi:10.5455/njppp.2023.13.09451202301112023

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Tewari S, Mukherjee A, Upadhyay GK. Knowledge, attitude, and practice of self-medication among undergraduate medical students in an Institute of National Importance in North India. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. 2023; 13(12): 2464-2469. doi:10.5455/njppp.2023.13.09451202301112023

Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Tewari S, Mukherjee A, Upadhyay GK. Knowledge, attitude, and practice of self-medication among undergraduate medical students in an Institute of National Importance in North India. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. (2023), [cited February 12, 2025]; 13(12): 2464-2469. doi:10.5455/njppp.2023.13.09451202301112023

Harvard Style

Tewari, S., Mukherjee, . A. & Upadhyay, . G. K. (2023) Knowledge, attitude, and practice of self-medication among undergraduate medical students in an Institute of National Importance in North India. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol, 13 (12), 2464-2469. doi:10.5455/njppp.2023.13.09451202301112023

Turabian Style

Tewari, Sachchidanand, Anirudh Mukherjee, and Gaurav Kumar Upadhyay. 2023. Knowledge, attitude, and practice of self-medication among undergraduate medical students in an Institute of National Importance in North India. National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 13 (12), 2464-2469. doi:10.5455/njppp.2023.13.09451202301112023

Chicago Style

Tewari, Sachchidanand, Anirudh Mukherjee, and Gaurav Kumar Upadhyay. "Knowledge, attitude, and practice of self-medication among undergraduate medical students in an Institute of National Importance in North India." National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology 13 (2023), 2464-2469. doi:10.5455/njppp.2023.13.09451202301112023

MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Tewari, Sachchidanand, Anirudh Mukherjee, and Gaurav Kumar Upadhyay. "Knowledge, attitude, and practice of self-medication among undergraduate medical students in an Institute of National Importance in North India." National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology 13.12 (2023), 2464-2469. Print. doi:10.5455/njppp.2023.13.09451202301112023

APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Tewari, S., Mukherjee, . A. & Upadhyay, . G. K. (2023) Knowledge, attitude, and practice of self-medication among undergraduate medical students in an Institute of National Importance in North India. National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 13 (12), 2464-2469. doi:10.5455/njppp.2023.13.09451202301112023

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