Keywords
knowledge
Medical Student
COVID-19
How to Cite
Abstract
Self-medication is one of the most common health maintenance practices in the world, and has been observed more frequently after the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic. In this context, responsible self-medication is very important to ensure public health and to alleviate health systems. Medical students are referents in society in terms of medication knowledge and therefore are promoters of medication use behaviors. The aim of this study was to evaluate self-medication practices among medical students in the context of non-specific symptoms associated or not with SARS-COV-2 infection at a university in Barranquilla, Colombia. Cross-sectional study conducted in a population of 2285 medical students. A sample of 350 randomly selected students was taken, and a self-administered survey was applied to inquire about aspects related to self-medication practices. The prevalence of self-medication in the study sample was 100%, with 70.1% having inadequate self-medication practices. Additionally, 48% would be willing to self-medicate without requesting medical assistance if they present mild symptoms associated with COVID-19. This study reports the highest prevalence of self-medication registered in Colombia. The results suggest the need for interventions aimed at promoting responsible self-medication practices to minimize negative health impacts, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.References
Abel Hernández Chávez, Arieh Roldán Mercado Sesma. Capítulo 21: Automedicación. En: Farmacología general. Una guía de estudio. primera edición. Ciudad de México: McGRAW-HILL INTERAMERICANA EDITORES, S.A. de C.V.; 2014. 7. Disponible en: https://accessmedicina.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?bookid=1489§ionid=96952696
Hughes CM, McElnay JC, Fleming GF. Benefits and risks of self medication. Drug Saf [Internet]. 2001;24(14):1027-37. Disponible en: https://link.springer.com/article/10.2165/00002018-200124140-00002
Mumtaz Y, Jahangeer SMA, Mujtaba T, Zafar S, Adnan S. Self Medication among University Students of Karachi -. J Liaquat Univ Med Health Sci [Internet]. 2011;10(3):102-5. Disponible en: https://www.bibliomed.org/?mno=209383
Behzadifar M, Behzadifar M, Aryankhesal A, Ravaghi H, Baradaran H, Sadat H, et al. Prevalence of self-medication in university students: systematic review and meta-analysis. East Mediterr Health J [Internet]. 2020;26(7):846-57. Disponible en: https://applications.emro.who.int/emhj/v26/07/1020-3397-2020-2607-846-857-eng.pdf?ua=1&ua=1
Mehmood A, Rehman AU, Zaman M, Iqbal J, Hassan SSU. Self-medication; An Emerging Trend. J Pharm Res Int [Internet]. 29 de noviembre de 2016;14(1):1-8. Disponible en: https://journaljpri.com/index.php/JPRI/article/view/19222
Malik M, Tahir MJ, Jabbar R, Ahmed A, Hussain R. Self-medication during Covid-19 pandemic: challenges and opportunities. Drugs Ther Perspect [Internet]. 2020;36(12):565-7. Disponible en: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7532737/
Can Sarınoğlu R, Sili U, Eryuksel E, Olgun Yildizeli S, Cimsit C, Karahasan Yagci A. Tuberculosis and COVID-19: An overlapping situation during pandemic. J Infect Dev Ctries. 31 de julio de 2020;14(7):721-5. DOI: 10.3855/jidc.13152
Cardona‐Ospina JA, Arteaga‐Livias K, Villamil‐Gómez WE, Pérez‐Díaz CE, Katterine Bonilla‐Aldana D, Mondragon‐Cardona Á, et al. Dengue and COVID‐19, overlapping epidemics? An Analysis from Colombia. J Med Virol [Internet]. 19 de junio de 2020;93(1):522-7. Disponible en: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7323437/
Khorramdelazad H, Kazemi MH, Najafi A, Keykhaee M, Zolfaghari Emameh R, Falak R. Immunopathological similarities between COVID-19 and influenza: Investigating the consequences of Co-infection. Microb Pathog [Internet]. marzo de 2021;152:104554. Disponible en: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0882401020309207?via%3Dihub
Hashemzaei M, Afshari M, Koohkan Z, Bazi A, Rezaee R, Tabrizian K. Knowledge, attitude, and practice of pharmacy and medical students regarding self-medication, a study in Zabol University of Medical Sciences; Sistan and Baluchestan province in south-east of Iran. BMC Med Educ [Internet]. 14 de enero de 2021;21:49. Disponible en: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7807440/
Zeru N, Fetene D, Geberu DM, Melesse AW, Atnafu A. Self-Medication Practice and Associated Factors Among University of Gondar College of Medicine and Health Sciences Students: A Cross-Sectional Study. Patient Prefer Adherence [Internet]. 1 de octubre de 2020;14:1779-90. Disponible en: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7535137/
Calderón C, Domínguez C, Gálvez J, López C, Urbina A, Vallejos Á. Automedicación en estudiantes de medicina de la Universidad del Rosario en Bogotá D. C., Colombia. Rev Colomb Cienc Quím Farm [Internet]. 2016;45(3):374-84. Disponible en: http://www.scielo.org.co/pdf/rccqf/v45n3/v45n3a03.pdf
James H, Handu SS, Khaja KAJA, Sequeira RP. Influence of medical training on self-medication by students. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther [Internet]. 1 de enero de 2008;46(1):23-9. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.5414/cpp46023
Kasulkar AA, Gupta M. Self Medication Practices among Medical Students of a Private Institute. Indian J Pharm Sci [Internet]. 2015;77(2):178-82. Disponible en: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4442466/
Kanwal ZG, Fatima N, Azhar S, Chohan O, Jabeen M, Yameen MA. Implications of self-medication among medical students-A dilemma. JPMA J Pak Med Assoc [Internet]. septiembre de 2018;68(9):1363-7. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30317266/
Isacson D, Bingefors K. Attitudes towards drugs--a survey in the general population. Pharm World Sci PWS [Internet]. junio de 2002;24(3):104-10. Disponible en: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1016127320051
Sawalha AF. A descriptive study of self-medication practices among Palestinian medical and nonmedical university students. Res Soc Adm Pharm RSAP. junio de 2008;4(2):164-72. DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2007.04.004
Susheela F, Goruntla N, Bhupalam PK, Veerabhadrappa KV, Sahithi B, Ishrar SMG. Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice toward responsible self-medication among students of pharmacy colleges located in Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh, India. J Educ Health Promot. 2018;7:96. DOI: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_175_17
González-Muñoz F, Jiménez-Reina L, Cantarero-Carmona I. Automedicación en estudiantes de último curso de Enfermería, Fisioterapia y Medicina de la Universidad de Córdoba. Educ Médica [Internet]. 1 de mayo de 2021;22(3):124-9. Disponible en: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1575181320300103
Morales-Ysuhuaylas JL, Peralta-Ugarte E. Automedicación responsable en estudiantes de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional Hermilio Valdizán. Rev Peru Investig En Salud [Internet]. 2019;3(1):25-9. Disponible en: https://www.redalyc.org/journal/6357/635767694004/html/
Pereira CM, Alves VF, Gasparetto PF, Carneiro DS, Carvalho D de GR de, Valoz FEF. Self-medication in health students from two Brazilian universities. RSBO Online [Internet]. diciembre de 2012;9(4):361-7. Disponible en: http://revodonto.bvsalud.org/scielo.php?script=sci_abstract&pid=S1984-56852012000400003&lng=pt&nrm=iso&tlng=en
Sankdia RK, Agrawal M, Rekha PB, Kothari N. A Questionnaire Based Study Regarding the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Self-Medication Among Second Year Undergraduate Medical Students. Int J Pharmacol Clin Sci [Internet]. 2017;6(1):17-22. Disponible en: https://www.ijphs.org/article/2017/6/1/105530ijpcs611
Sawalha AF. A descriptive study of self-medication practices among Palestinian medical and nonmedical university students. Res Soc Adm Pharm RSAP. junio de 2008;4(2):164-72. DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2007.04.004
Perrot S, Cittée J, Pascal L, Bertrand Q, Carole R, Jean-Yves M, et al. Self‐medication in pain management: The state of the art of pharmacists’ role for optimal Over‐The‐Counter analgesic use. Eur J Pain [Internet]. 2019;23(10):1747-62. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31349370/
Mattar S, Tique V, Miranda J, Montes E, Garzon D. Undifferentiated tropical febrile illness in Cordoba, Colombia: Not everything is dengue. J Infect Public Health [Internet]. 1 de septiembre de 2017;10(5):507-12. Disponible en: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876034116301538
Miah MdA, Husna A. Coinfection, coepidemics of COVID‐19, and dengue in dengue‐endemic countries: A serious health concern. J Med Virol [Internet]. 14 de julio de 2020;10.1002/jmv.26269. Disponible en: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7361212/
Czubak J, Stolarczyk K, Orzeł A, Frączek M, Zatoński T. Comparison of the clinical differences between COVID-19, SARS, influenza, and the common cold: A systematic literature review. Adv Clin Exp Med Off Organ Wroclaw Med Univ. enero de 2021;30(1):109-14. DOI: 10.17219/acem/129573
Eichhorn T, Greten HJ, Efferth T. Self-medication with nutritional supplements and herbal over-thecounter products. Nat Prod Bioprospecting [Internet]. 12 de noviembre de 2011;1(2):62-70. Disponible en: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4131654/
Rehman M, Ahmed S, Ahmed U, Tamanna K, Sabir MS, Niaz Z. An overview of self-medication: A major cause of antibiotic resistance and a threat to global public health. JPMA J Pak Med Assoc. marzo de 2021;71(3):943-9. Disponibleen:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34057954/
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2023 Universidad Del Magdalena