Brian Bukoli, Goruntla Narayana, Bommireddy Bhavana Reddy, Mopuri Bhavani M, Easwaran Vigneshwaran, Mantargi Mohammad Jaffar Sadiq, Thammisetty Durga Prasad, Bukke Sarad Pawar Naik, Yadesa Tadele Mekuriya, Ayogu Ebere Emilia
Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, Kampala International University, Western Campus, Ishaka, Uganda.
Research Scholar, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Raghavendra Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (RIPER) - Autonomous, Anantapur, AP, India.
Drug Healthc Patient Saf. 2025 Jan 7;17:7-23. doi: 10.2147/DHPS.S496924. eCollection 2025.
Rational self-medication (SM) practice among healthcare students is essential to promote the safe, effective, and economical use of medicines for self-diagnosed conditions. The study aimed to assess pharmacy students' knowledge, attitude, and practice about responsible self-medication.
A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among Ugandan pharmacy students for one month from March 1 to March 31, 2024. The study included students enrolled in diploma, bachelor, and master of pharmacy programs in Uganda. Informed consent was obtained online by asking a question regarding willingness to participate. A non-probable snowball sampling technique was used to recruit students. A pre-validated questionnaire was used to obtain socio-demographics, self-medication practices, knowledge, attitudes, and practices about responsible self-medication. We used binary and multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify the factors associated with KAP regarding responsible self-medication.
The prevalence of self-medication practice among pharmacy students was 96.73%. The self-medication is most common in headache (78.97%), cold, and cough (79.91%) illnesses. Painkillers (90.19%) and antibiotics (53.97%) are the most common medicines used for self-medication. Most pharmacy students have good knowledge (87.38%) and a positive attitude (96.03%) toward responsible self-medication. However, only 27.34% of students practice rational self-medication. Participants' university and parents' professions were significantly associated with good knowledge of responsible self-medication. Whereas factors such as gender, residence, and type of illness were significantly associated with rational self-medication practice.
The prevalence of self-medication was high among pharmacy students in Uganda. Painkillers and antibiotics are the most preferred drugs for self-medication. About 87.38% of pharmacy students have good knowledge, and 96.03% have a positive attitude toward responsible self-medication. Rational self-medication practice was low among students. We recommended training sessions to enhance safe self-medication practices among pharmacy students.
医学生进行合理的自我药疗对于促进对自我诊断疾病安全、有效且经济地使用药物至关重要。本研究旨在评估药学专业学生关于合理自我药疗的知识、态度和行为。
于2024年3月1日至3月31日对乌干达药学专业学生进行了为期一个月的横断面在线调查。该研究纳入了乌干达参加药学文凭、学士和硕士课程的学生。通过询问关于参与意愿的问题在线获得知情同意。采用非概率滚雪球抽样技术招募学生。使用经过预验证的问卷获取社会人口统计学信息、自我药疗行为、关于合理自我药疗的知识、态度和行为。我们使用二元和多变量逻辑回归分析来确定与合理自我药疗的知识、态度和行为相关的因素。
药学专业学生中自我药疗行为的发生率为96.73%。自我药疗在头痛（78.97%）、感冒和咳嗽（79.91%）疾病中最为常见。止痛药（90.19%）和抗生素（53.97%）是自我药疗最常用的药物。大多数药学专业学生对合理自我药疗有良好的知识（87.38%）和积极的态度（96.03%）。然而，只有27.34%的学生进行合理的自我药疗。参与者所在的大学和父母的职业与对合理自我药疗的良好知识显著相关。而性别、居住地和疾病类型等因素与合理自我药疗行为显著相关。
乌干达药学专业学生中自我药疗的发生率较高。止痛药和抗生素是自我药疗最常用的药物。约87.38%的药学专业学生有良好的知识，96.03%的学生对合理自我药疗有积极的态度。学生中合理自我药疗行为较少。我们建议开展培训课程以加强药学专业学生的安全自我药疗行为。
