Introduction
This study is a community-based study aimed at investigating the reasons behind self-medication of antibiotics among college students. Self-medication with antibiotics without consulting a healthcare professional is a concerning practice that can lead to antibiotic resistance, adverse reactions, and other health risks. Understanding the factors influencing self-medication behaviours among college students is essential for developing targeted interventions to promote responsible antibiotic use and mitigate potential health hazards.
The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of self-medication of antibiotics among college students and to explore the underlying reasons for this practice, such as convenience, cost-saving, and lack of access to healthcare services. Additionally, the study aims to assess the level of knowledge and awareness that college students have regarding the potential risks associated with self-medication of antibiotics. Finally, the study seeks to examine the healthcare-seeking behavior of students after they have self-medicated with antibiotics, providing a comprehensive understanding of their practices and attitudes toward antibiotic use.
Materials and Methods
This study was conducted through a community-based online survey employed a cross-sectional design to gather data on the self-medication of antibiotics among college students. The study is scheduled to take place over a two-month period, from 1st March to 30th April 2024. During this time, participants will be enrolled to provide insights into their self-medication practices, with the total number of participants constituting the sample size for the study.1, 2, 3
Data source
Structured questionnaire will be developed based on relevant literature and research objectives. The questionnaire will include sections on demographic information, self-medication behaviours, reasons for self-medication, knowledge and awareness of antibiotic risks, healthcare seeking behaviour, and interest in educational interventions.
Result and Discussion
The community-based study on self-medication of antibiotics among college students in Dakshin Kannada revealed several significant findings regarding demographic characteristics, self-medication practices, knowledge, awareness, and healthcare-seeking behavior.
Demographically, the study encompassed a predominantly young population, with 73.3% falling within the age range of 18-21 years. Additionally, a majority of the respondents were female (57.1%), and a significant proportion were pursuing undergraduate degrees in health or medicine-related fields (40.5%).4, 5, 6, 7, 8
The study found that a considerable number of college students (67.4%) had practiced self-medication with antibiotics without consulting healthcare professionals.
Among them, self-medication was often practiced on a sporadic basis, with 49.9% doing so rarely. The primary reasons cited for self-medication included convenience (49%), cost-saving (30.8%), and previous successful use of antibiotics for similar symptoms (29.8%).
Interestingly, many students obtained antibiotics for self-medication from leftover prescriptions (56.4%), while others acquired them from friends or family members (33.7%) or purchased them over the counter (29.1%).
Table 1
Self-Medication of Antibiotics
However, awareness of potential risks associated with self-medication, such as antibiotic resistance and adverse reactions, was relatively low, with only 52.7% indicating awareness.
Despite the prevalence of self-medication, a significant proportion of students (38.3%) sought professional medical advice afterward, particularly in cases of persistent or worseningsymptoms (42.9%) and the development of new symptoms (30.2%).
Regarding education and awareness, a substantial number of students (47.1%) reported receiving guidance on the appropriate use of antibiotics, and the majority expressed interest in attending educational sessions or workshops on the topic (56.9%).
Discussion
Among the participants, majority of were women, with a higher proportion pursuing under graduate degree in health or medical related fields.
This study demonstrated that high percentage of students had self-medicated themselves with antibiotics without consulting health care professionals is similar with a Malaysianstudy showed that university students are more inclined to use antibiotics. Tiong T.W. and Chua S.S. 4 This was further supported by the study conducted among medical and non-medical students at two prominent university in Benghazi city, Libya by Ghaieth M.F., Elhag S.R.M., Hussein M.E. et al.5
Awareness of potential risks associated with self-medication, such as antibiotic resistance and adverse reactions, was relatively low. This was consistent with studies in other countries which demonstrated that a majority of healthcare students had good knowledge but poor attitude towards the use of antibiotics.4 This will lead to the development of antibiotic resistance. Consumption of left-over antibiotics were the main source of self-medication with antibiotics followed by friends or family members and pharmacies similarity was observed in a study by Khan R et al.6 The primary reason cited for self-medication included convenience, cost saving and previous successful use of antibiotics for similar symptoms. Other reasons such as lack of time to visit healthcare professionals, lack of knowledge about about the potential risk of self-medication, lack of access to healthcare services and influence from friends or family members in descending order this statement is supported by the similar study of Haque M., Rahman N.Z., McKimm J., et al.2 In this study, it was showed that persistence or worsening of symptoms and development of new symptoms are the major factors which influences the participants to seek professional medical advice.
Self-medication with antibiotics is not recommended due to the risk of antibiotic resistance, making infections harder to treat. Antibiotics should only be used when prescribed by a healthcare provider after a proper diagnosis. Although self-medicating might seem convenient, especially with familiar symptoms, it's essential to use antibiotics judiciously and only under professional guidance to ensure their effectiveness and safety.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the study highlights the widespread practice of self-medication with antibiotics among college students in Dakshin Kannada, driven by factors such as convenience and cost-saving. However, there is a notable lack of awareness regarding the potential risks associated with self-medication. Efforts to improve education and awareness on antibiotic use and the risks of self-medication are warranted to promote responsible antibiotic use and mitigate the emergence of antibiotic resistance.