ASSESSMENT OF SELF-MEDICATION AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS

Self-medication is a human behavior in which an individual uses a substance or any exogenous influence to self-administer treatment for physical or psychological ailments. The most widely self-medicated substances are over-the-counter drugs used to treat common health issues at home, as well as dietary supplements. These do not require a doctor's prescription to obtain and, in some countries, are available in supermarkets and convenience stores. This cross-sectional study was conducted in different medical colleges of Punjab and one hundred and thirty-two medical students from different classes residing in the hostels were included through a convenience sampling method.  A total of 132 students participated in the study. Mean age was 22.23±1.89 years with an age range of 20 to 26 years.  Fifteen (11.36%) students never had self-medication. A total of 117 (88.64%) students experienced self-medication due to different reasons. Regarding the frequency of self-medication 70.23% responded that they do it frequently. When asked about the adverse effects of self-medication 69.62% students never experienced any side effects after self-medication.