Exploring Self-Medication Practices Among Undergraduate University Students: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

Abstract: The findings of this study underscore the critical role of human factors and ergonomics in understanding and addressing the issue of self-medication among undergraduate university students. The aim of the presented qualitative descripted study was to explore the self medication and to assess practices among undergraduate university students of Viña del Mar from Chile. Method: A self-administered questionnaire consisting of 13 items was distributed to 342 participants through quota sampling, distributed in the following fields of study: Biotechnology Engineering (5), Manufacturing and Industrial Design Engineering (15), Computer Engineering (32), Industrial Maintenance Engineering (19), Industrial Safety and Environmental Engineering (10), Business Administration Technician (22), University Technician in Food (3), University Technician in Biotechnology (8), University Technician in Construction (25), University Technician in Environmental Control (5), University Technician in Electricity (25), University Technician in Electronics (17), University Technician in Renewable Energies (8), University Technician in Informatics (29), University Technician in Industrial Maintenance (24), University Technician in Automotive Mechanics (24), University Technician in Industrial Mechanics (18), University Technician in Mining and Metallurgy (29), University Technician in Engineering Projects (6), University Technician in Chemistry with a Mention in Analytical Chemistry (7), and University Technician in Telecommunications and Networks (11). The 342 participants (mean age=22 ± 2.3 years, Male: Female ratio=1.07:1), 71 were engineering and 271 were technician students. Self-medication was reported by 85.4% students. The most common reason for self-medication was lack of time to go to the doctor (49%). On the other hand, students (72%) use medications without prescription when symptoms appear, and the majority (75%) go to the doctor if the symptoms persist after self-medication. Commonly used medicines were analgesics (62.3%), antipyretics (21.1%) and antibiotics (11%). which are reflections of insufficient knowledge and wrong beliefs. Conclusion: Prevalence of self-medication is high in the Undergraduate University Students, despite majority being aware of its harmful effects. There is a need to educate the youth to ensure safe practices. Strict policies need to be implemented on the advertising and selling of medications to prevent this problem from escalating. Interventions must be put in place to educate on appropriate medicine use. National education programmes about the dangers of self medication use and restriction of antibiotics without prescriptions should be the priority including all paper components such as references, appendices, acknowledgements.

Keywords: Self, medication, University students, Questionnaire

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1004835

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