Self-Medication Practices among Health Professional Students during the COVID19 Pandemic: ACross-Sectional Study in Lahore

Self-medication practices in COVID-19

Abstract

Background: Self-medication is a global concern, particularly among health professional students who have easier access to medical knowledge.

Objective: The main objective of this study was to assess the frequency of self-medication among health professional students and to compare the frequencies between COVID-19 positive individuals and patients having flu-like symptoms during the pandemic.

Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 380 health professional students from various medical and dental colleges in Lahore. Response rate was 65.3%. Survey was administered via Google Forms and included sections containing questions about participants' history of self-medication. Both COVID-19–affected and unaffected participants were asked about their history or tendency toward self-medication.

Results: Results reported that 58.57% participants with COVID-19 and 63.47% with flu-like sickness gave a positive response about self-medication. 80.49% COVID-19 individuals and 78.30% with flu-like sickness claimed that self-medication helped with the symptoms.

Conclusion: Self-medication was highly prevalent among health professional students during the pandemic, driven by easy access to over-the-counter drugs, prior experiences, and reluctance to consult physicians. This practice underscores the urgent need for targeted awareness programs and stricter regulatory strategies.