Self-medication Knowledge Among Undergraduate Students in Al-Qalam University – Kirkuk- Iraq, 2019-2020

Abstract

Background: Over the counter (OTC) medications are used for self-treatment. Profoundly means the use of treatment without a prescription or specialist medical advice. Evaluation of related knowledge is essential to ensure optimal use of medicines.

Full text

Bahrain Medical Bulletin, Vol. 44, No. 1, March 2022
837
Self-medication Knowledge Among Undergraduate Students in Al-Qalam
University – Kirkuk- Iraq, 2019-2020
Hayman Mohammed Saeed Rashid, MSc* Yousif Abdulmuhsin Salih, Ph.D** Bestoon M. Ahmed, Ph.D** Fakher Abobaker
Ahmed Gli, MSc** Nashwan Nadhim Hasan, MSc***
ABSTRACT
Background: Over the counter (OTC) medications are used for self-treatment. Profoundly means the use of
treatment without a prescription or specialist medical advice. Evaluation of related knowledge is essential to
ensure optimal use of medicines.
Objectives: To demonstrate the knowledge of self-medication among undergraduate students at Al-Qalam
University – Kirkuk- Iraq 2019-2020, and to nd out the relationship between students' knowledge and their
demographic data (age, gender, family income).
Methods: This descriptive study involved undergraduate students from 2019-2020 in Al-Qalam University-
Kirkuk-Iraq. The sample size consisted of Fifty-nine students from the X-ray and Sonar Technique department
from both genders. A questionnaire was constructed to focus on students' knowledge of self-medication and
Over the counter (OTC) drugs. Data were collected from 1st October to 30th November 2019. The data were
categorized by student age, gender, and family income. Measure of central tendency was used to analyze the
data, and the hypothesis was tested using cross-tabulation to study the relationship among variables by Statistical
Package for the Social Sciences (V.21).
Results: The socio-demographic characteristics of the study participants show that the age group (20-22) were
the highest among study samples (N=59; 37%), (Mean = 2.45, SD= 1.91). The Mean score was utilized as a
guideline for determining students' knowledge about self-medication. If the average score is greater than 3,
it indicates a satisfying understanding of self-medication; otherwise, it indicates dissatisfaction. There was a
signicant association in items, related to multiple drugs are more eective than a single medication (χ2 (12, N
=59 = 22.132, p < 0.05), and item related to that more expensive medications are more eective (χ2 (12, N =59 =
24.696, p < 0.05). Additionally, a signicant association was found in items related to that the students were aware
of the importance of reading the instruction (χ2 (2, N =59 = 8.762, p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Self-medication is common practice in the Iraqi community. The outcome of this study is to determine
whether there is a need for awareness programs about self-medication for university students. The knowledge
of undergraduate students at Al-Qalam University about self-medication is not satisfactory. They tend to use
it correctly with little information, so it has become necessary to develop educational programs to increase the
knowledge of the potential side eects of these non-prescription medications.
Keywords: Self-medication knowledge, Students' knowledge on self-medication, non-prescribed medications,
Over-the-counter (OTC) medications
* Researcher & Assistant Lecturer at Al-Qalam College University
Community Health Nursing
Hawler Medical University
Iraq
** Researcher & Lecturer at College of Nursing
University of Kirkuk
Iraq. E-mail: y.salih@uokirkuk.edu.iq
*** Lecturer
Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
INTRODUCTION
Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are commonly used for self-
treatment. Profoundly means the use of treatment without a prescription
or specialist medical advice. Evaluation of related knowledge is
essential to ensure optimal use of medicines1. Self-medication is
a procedure for taking treatment based on a person's opinion, or the
opinion of a third party, in which he prescribes medication for himself
to treat or prevent a medical condition of unknown origin and severity2.
Self-medication with over-the-counter (OTC) drugs is a concern for
human health, especially in the health-targeted groups of pregnant
women, as it is dangerous for both the mother and the fetus. Studies are
few about some factors such as knowledge impacting self-medication3.
Pharmaceutical vendors are lling the gap created by the inadequacy
of skilled pharmacists to trade medicines in non-industrialized
countries4-6. In addition, the use of self-medication is a common
practice in developed countries7.

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Bahrain Medical Bulletin, Vol. 44, No. 1, March 2022
showed (Mean = 2.45, SD= 1.91). The Mean score is utilized to
determine students' knowledge about self-medication. If the average
score is greater than 3, it indicates a satisfying understanding of self-
medication; otherwise, it indicates dissatisfaction.
Chi-square Analysis: Chi-square analysis was used to determine the
independence of two variables (Tables 3,4 and 5). There was a signicant
association in items, related to multiple drugs are more eective than a
single medication (χ2 (12, N =59 = 22.132, p < 0.05), and item related
to that more expensive medications are more eective (χ2 (12, N =59
= 24.696, p < 0.05). Additionally, a signicant association was found
in items related to that the students were aware of the importance of
reading the instruction (χ2 (2, N =59 = 8.762, p < 0.05).
DISCUSSION
The outcome of this study is to determine whether there is a need for
awareness programs about self-medication for university students.
Self-medication is an alternative treatment used by community
members to increase their livelihoods to aord treatment, which can be
expensive10-13. A study reported a good level of knowledge about self-
medication among medical students with a low level of commitment and
recommended improvement of practice to reect the positive impact of
the knowledge14.The World Health Organization has declared that the
use of self-medication is a signicant factor leading to an increase in the
use, misuse and resistance of antibiotics15,16. The present study shows
statistical signicances related to the use of multiple drugs to be more
eective than a single medication, and more expensive medications
are more eective. And that student, before using drugs, the students
are aware of the importance of reading the instruction before using
drugs. Self-medication is a global problem among college students and
is a growing public health concern prevalent in developing countries. It
Humans tend to use herbs and medicines to treat themselves. People
worldwide act on their own through self-care. Self-medication is now
increasingly seen as an element of self-care. Medications intended to
reduce fever and pain relievers are commonly used for self-treatment.
Pharmacists play a signicant role in self-medication since pharmacists
are the source of their drug information8,9.
OBJECTIVES
To demonstrate the knowledge of self-medication among undergraduate
students at Al-Qalam University – Kirkuk- Iraq 2019-2020, and
to nd out the relationship between students' knowledge and their
demographic data (age, gender, family income).
METHODS
This descriptive study involved undergraduate students from 2019-
2020 in Al-Qalam University-Kirkuk-Iraq. A sample size of Fifty-nine
students from the X-ray and Sonar Technique department from both
genders were recruited. A questionnaire was constructed to focus on
students' knowledge of self-medication and Over-the-counter (OTC)
drugs. Data were collected from 1st October to 30th November 2019.
The data were categorized by student age, gender, and family income.
A measure of central tendency was used to analyze the data, and the
hypothesis was tested using cross-tabulation to study the relationship
among variables by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (V.21).
RESULTS
The socio-demographic characteristics of the study participants were
present in (Table 1) and shows distributions of students' knowledge
related to self-medications were present in (Table 2). The age group
(20-22) were the highest among study samples (N=59; 37%). and
Table 1: Socio-demographic characteristics of the study sample
Items F %
Age
< 20 7 12
20 – 22 37 63
23 – 25 15 25
Total 59 100
Mean (21.45) – SD (1.91)
Gender
Male 26 44
Female 33 56
Total 59 100
Mean (1.56) – SD (0.5)
Marital Status
Single 48 80
Married 11 20
Total 59 100
Mean (1.2) – SD (0.4)
Academic Level
Second Year 23 39
Third Year 36 61
Total 59 100
Mean (2.6) – SD (0.49)
Smoking
Yes 12 20
No 47 80
Total 59 100
Mean (1.7) – SD (0.4)
Family income (by Iraqi Dinar)
Low (500,000 ID) 29 49%
Medium (1,000000 ID) 29 49%
High (1,500,000 ID) 1 2%
Total 59 100
Mean (1.5) – SD (0.5)

Self-medication Knowledge Among Undergraduate Students in Al-Qalam University – Kirkuk- Iraq, 2019-2020
839
No. Items Agree Neutral Disagree Total MS SD
F % F % F % F %
1Medicines are required for the treatment of
illnesses. 48 81.4 5 8.5 6 10.2 59 100.0 1.2 .61112
2Medication side eects are a source of concern
for me. 48 81.4 1 1.7 10 16.9 59 100.0 1.2 .44643
3Even when I'm unwell, I prefer to avoid taking
drugs. 32 54.2 11 18.6 16 27.1 59 100.0 1.6 .78263
4Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are
completely safe. 9 15.3 2 3.4 48 81.4 59 100.0 1.8 .41873
5Prescription drugs are eective. 38 64.4 9 15.3 12 20.3 59 100.0 1.5 .75139
6Self-medication can cause a delay in the
diagnosis of an illness. 31 52.5 11 18.6 17 28.8 59 100.0 1.6 .77926
7Before using drugs, I am aware of the importance
of reading the instruction. 49 83.1 6 10.2 4 6.8 59 100.0 1.2 .63871
8Multiple drugs are more eective than a single
medication. 7 11.9 8 13.6 44 74.6 59 100.0 2.0 .50826
9More expensive medications are more eective. 11 18.6 12 20.3 36 61.0 59 100.0 2.0 .62949
10 New drugs are more eective than older ones. 28 47.5 13 22.0 18 30.5 59 100.0 1.7 .80072
11 For minor health problems, a pharmacist is a
good place to go. 34 57.6 9 15.3 16 27.1 59 100.0 1.5 .74749
12 Medicines are harmful, even when taken in
accordance with doctor's advice. 26 44.1 16 27.1 17 28.8 59 100.0 1.8 .83362
Table 2: Distributions of students' knowledge related to self-medications
Table 3: Group dierences between students' age and their knowledge toward self-medication
Items x2df P-value Sig.
1 Medicines are required for the treatment of illnesses. 20.639 12 .056 NS
2Medication side eects are a source of concern for me. 8.211 12 .768 NS
3 Even when I'm unwell, I prefer to avoid taking drugs. 14.379 12 .277 NS
4 Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are entirely safe. 17.804 12 .122 NS
5Prescription drugs are eective. 18.073 12 .113 NS
6 Self-medication can cause a delay in the diagnosis of an illness. 12.919 12 .375 NS
7 Before using drugs, I am aware of the importance of reading the instruction. 7.476 12 .825 NS
8Multiple drugs are more eective than a single medication. 22.132 12 .036 Sig. >.05
9More expensive medications are more eective. 24.696 12 .016 Sig. >.05
10 New drugs are more eective than older ones. 20.904 12 .052 NS
11 For minor health problems, a pharmacist is a good place to go. 15.854 12 .198 NS
12 Medicines are harmful, even when taken under the doctor's advice. 12.856 12 .380 NS
Table 4: Group dierences between students' gender and their knowledge toward self-medication
Items x2df P-value Sig.
1 Medicines are required for the treatment of illnesses. 2.403 2 .301 NS
2Medication side eects are a source of concern for me. 1.930 2 .381 NS
3 Even when I'm unwell, I prefer to avoid taking drugs. 3.030 2 .220 NS
4 Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are entirely safe. 2.961 2 .228 NS
5Prescription drugs are eective. 4.288 2 .117 NS
6 Self-medication can cause a delay in the diagnosis of an illness. 1.036 2 .596 NS
7 Before using drugs, I am aware of the importance of reading the instruction. 8.762 2 .013 Sig. >.05
8Multiple drugs are more eective than a single medication. .778 2 .678 NS
9More expensive medications are more eective. .264 2 .876 NS
10 New drugs are more eective than older ones. 1.913 2 .384 NS
11 For minor health problems, a pharmacist is a good place to go. 1.499 2 .473 NS
12 Medicines are harmful, even when taken under the doctor's advice. .388 2 .824 NS

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can lead to serious consequences such as misuse and abuse of drugs, in
addition to the expected side eects of drugs17.
CONCLUSION
Self-medication is common practice in the Iraqi community. The
knowledge of undergraduate students at Al-Qalam University
about self-medication is not satisfactory. They tend to use it
correctly with little information, so it has become necessary to
develop educational programs to increase the knowledge of the
potential side eects of these non-prescription medications and
to prepare graduates to perform the everyday tasks in the health
facilities in which they will work after graduation or in their
lifetime.
________________________________________________________
Authorship Contribution: All authors share equal eort contribution
towards (1) substantial contributions to conception and design,
acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data; (2) drafting the article
and revising it critically for important intellectual content; and (3) nal
approval of the manuscript version to be published. Yes.
Potential Conict of Interest: None
Competing Interest: None
Acceptance Date: 05 February 2022
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Table 5: Group dierences between family income and student knowledge toward self-medication
Items df P-value Sig.
1 Medicines are required for the treatment of illnesses. 2.255 4 .689 NS
2Medication side eects are a source of concern for me. 7.256 4 .123 NS
3 Even when I'm unwell, I prefer to avoid taking drugs. 5.283 4 .259 NS
4 Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are completely safe. 8.477 4 .076 NS
5Prescription drugs are eective. . 4.872 4 .301 NS
6 Self-medication can cause a delay in the diagnosis of an illness. 1.681 4 .794 NS
7 Before using drugs, I am aware of the importance of reading the instruction. 2.235 4 .693 NS
8Multiple drugs are more eective than a single medication. .515 4 .972 NS
9More expensive medications are more eective. 2.528 4 .640 NS
10 New drugs are more eective than older ones. . 6.372 4 .173 NS
11 For minor health problems, a pharmacist is a good place to go. 2.049 4 .727 NS
12 Medicines are harmful, even when taken in accordance with doctor's advice. . 3.007 4 .557 NS