Self-medication of antibiotics: investigating practice among university students at the Malaysian National Defence University

Haque, Mainul and A. Rahman, Nor Azlina and McKimm, Judy and Kibria, Golam Mohammad and Majumder, Md Anwarul Azim and Haque, Seraj Zohurul and Islam, Md Zakirul and Abdullah, Shahidah Leong and Mohammad Daher, Aqil and Zulkifli, Zainal and Rahman, Sayeeda and Kabir, Russell and Lutfi, Siti Nur Najihah and Othman, Nur Syamirah Aishah (2019) Self-medication of antibiotics: investigating practice among university students at the Malaysian National Defence University. Infection and Drug Resistance, 12. pp. 1333-1351. ISSN 1178-6973

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Abstract

Background: Self-medication of drugs to alleviate symptoms is a common global behavior, helping relieve burdens on health services, but many drugs eg, antibiotics are prescription-only. Self-medication of antibiotics (SMA) is an irrational use of drugs, contributing to microbial resistance increasing health care costs and higher mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to assess SMA among university students. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among medical and non-medical students of the National Defence University of Malaysia. A validated instrument was used to gather data. Ethics approval was obtained. Random and universal sampling was adopted, and SPSS 21 was used for data analysis. Results: A total of 649 students participated in the study: 48.5% male and 51.5% female, 39.3% reported self-medicating with antibiotics. Penicillin, doxycycline, clarithromycin were the antibiotics most used with the majority reporting no adverse drug reactions. Cost savings and convenience were the principal reasons for SMA which were mainly obtained from local retail pharmacies. Despite medical students (particularly the more senior) having better knowledge of antibiotic use than non-medical students, 89% of all research participants responded that practicing SMA was a good/acceptable practice. Conclusion: SMA is common amongst Malaysian students and, despite understanding why SMA is unwise, even medical students self-medicate.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Additional Information:	5509/76149
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Antibiotics, self-medication, antibiotic resistance, university students, medical students, non-medical students
Subjects:	R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences > Department of Physical Rehabilitation Sciences
Depositing User:	Dr. Nor Azlina A Rahman
Date Deposited:	16 Dec 2019 16:20
Last Modified:	30 Jun 2022 10:46
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/76149

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