Abstract

ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF SELF-MEDICATION AMONG DENTAL STUDENTS AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Salve Urmi1*, Deshmukh Yeshwant A, Ahire Abhijit, Sharma Supriya

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To assess the attitude and behavior of dental students toward self-medication. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire based study was conducted in MGM dental college, Navi Mumbai. The undergraduate dental students from third year and final year who gave consent were included in the study. Information regarding the reason for self-medication, condition for which they self-medicated, type of drugs used, awareness about the drugs used and their source of information was collected. Data was summarized using descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 100 students were included in this study. The prevalence of self-medication is 100%.Common cold, cough and headache were the most common indications for self medication. The most commonly used drugs were analgesics, antipyretics and antibiotics. Only 73% percent of students opined that they opted for self-medication for mild illness followed by convenience and time saving. Sixty six percent of the students had the knowledge of the mechanism of action of the drugs they were taking. And 66% of the students sourced the information of self-medication from family. Conclusion: The findings of this study reveal that the majority of the students self-medicate. As these students are future dental practitioners, self-medication as a regular practice by them should be curbed as their behavior may indirectly influence their patient's health.

Keywords: Self Medication, Dental Students.