Multidimensional Analysis of Self-medication among Undergraduate Students Focusing on Determinants and Health Outcomes

Abstract

Background and Objective: Self-medication is a significant public health concern, particularly among university
students in health-science disciplines who frequently bypass professional medical consultations. This study aims to
analyze the behavioral determinants influencing self-medication practices and evaluate the associated health outcomes
among undergraduate pharmacy students.
Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based observational study was conducted over three months among
undergraduate students aged 18–25 years at Srinivas College of Pharmacy, Mangalore. Students were stratified based
on academic year, and proportional random sampling was applied. A total of 50 participants were included as part of
a pilot exploratory study. Data were collected using a structured, pre-validated questionnaire (Cronbach’s alpha =
0.78) reviewed by subject experts. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 30. Descriptive statistics and chisquare test were applied, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: The prevalence of self-medication was 72%. Major determinants included perceived mildness of illness
(75%), easy drug availability (72%), and prior experience (69%). Commonly used drugs were analgesics (78%) and
antipyretics (64%), with 36% reporting antibiotic use without prescription. While 80% reported symptom relief, 20%
experienced adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and 22% reported delayed diagnosis. A significant association was
observed between frequent self-medication and adverse outcomes (χ² = 6.80, p = 0.009).
Conclusion: Self-medication is highly prevalent among pharmacy students. Despite pharmacological knowledge,
inappropriate practices such as antibiotic misuse pose potential clinical risks. Targeted pharmacovigilance education
and stricter regulatory enforcement are recommended.