Self-Medication of Medical Students at Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University in Turkey: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Responsible self-medication (SM) can save time, money, reduce the number of visits to the doctor, and alleviate pressure on health services. However, while there are clear benefits, SM also carries significant risks, such as increased drug side effects, inappropriate use of prescription drugs, drug interactions, misdiagnosis, drug dependence, masking of medical conditions, and antibiotic resistance.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the practices of medical students at a public university in Türkiye towards SM, as well as to determine the factors influencing such practices.

Method: The population of this cross-sectional study included first-, fourth-, and sixth-year medical students. As the goal was to reach the entire population (375 students), no sample selection was made. A total of 332 students (88.5%) participated in the study. The relevant literature was used for the basis of the questionnaire used in the study. In the statistical evaluation, percentages, means, standard deviations, medians, minimum, and maximum values were used to present the descriptive data, while factors influencing SM were analyzed using the chi-square test and bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results: The overall rate of SM among the participants was found to be 96.1%. No statistically significant difference was observed in SM rates based on the year of study (p>0.05). The rate of students using antibiotics without a prescription was 19.3%. Additionally, 82.5% of the students reported reading the package insert before using a drug. The most common symptoms leading to SM were headaches (83.1%) and the common cold (63.6%). The most frequently self-administered medications were analgesics (86.1%), common cold medicines (54.8%), and vitamins (34.0%). Furthermore, 79.3% of the participants indicated that they self-medicate because they perceive their condition as a simple illness, 64.6% because they had experienced a similar illness before, and 28.2% because they believed they had sufficient knowledge of medications. In multivariate regression analysis, keeping medicines at home/in the dormitory for later use and not having a chronic disease were found to be effective factors in students' practice of SM.

Conclusion: It is important to plan educational interventions to promote the development of responsible SM behaviors. Starting these educational programs in the first year of medical school is thought to contribute significantly to the fostering of responsible SM practices.