EVALUATION OF SELF-MEDICATION AMONG UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL STUDENTS

ABSTRACT

The present study demonstrated that self-medication is widely practiced among undergraduate medical students in the University of Benin. This is facilitated by the easy availability of drugs, and information from textbooks/seniors. A few of the students are unaware of the adverse effects of the medication that they themselves take and suggest to others. Since inappropriate selfmedication has the potential to cause serious harm, not only to the students themselves but also to those whom they suggest medication, potential problems of self- medication should be emphasised to the students to minimise this risk. With the absence of guiding rules and regulations in developing countries, more attention should be paid to undergraduate medical curricula to raise awareness and limit the hazardous effects of this phenomenon, not only contributing to the health of medical professions, but also their communities. Restriction of sale of drugs with potentially harmful effects should be implemented effectively with monitoring systems between the physicians and pharmacists. Steps can also be taken to educate pharmacists on the need to cross check with the prescribing physician while dispensing such drugs. The limitations of this study included the absence of a comparative group, such as students from another field; the small sample size; and the absence of interventions, like providing information regarding hazards of self-medication. This study also lack generalizability to represent all 30 undergraduate medical students in Nigeria since students enrolled in University of Benin might have a different perspective to students from the Western or Northern parts of Nigeria.