title: Self-medication practice and perceptions among undergraduate medical students: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Self-medication practice is widespread in many countries and the irrational use of drugs is a cause of concern.It assumes a special significance among medical students as they are exposed to knowledge about diseases and drugs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess practice and perception of self medication among undergraduate medical students.
  
  
  METHODS
  It is a cross-sectional study in which study population consisted of undergraduate medical students of Mahadevappa Rampure Medical College Gulbarga, Karnataka, India. This study was conducted from March to April 2014. Total 448 students were taken. Out of which 8 incomplete questionnaires were excluded and 440 were analysed. The students who took self-medication during last six months were included. Written informed consent was obtained from each volunteer prior to the study. Students were given a questionnaire that include both open and close ended questions about self-medication practice. Ethical Approval: Ethics Committee approval was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee of Mahadevappa Rampure Medical College, Gulbarga, India, prior to the commencement of the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data was analysed and presented as counts and percentages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was found that 388 (88.18%) students practiced self medication. The principal morbidity for seeking self medication was cold and cough as reported by 304 (78.35%) students. Antibiotics were most commonly self medicated as reported by 248 (63.91%) students, out of which only 92 (37.1%) students completed the full course of antibiotic regimen. Only 176 (40%) students opined that self medication is part of self care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-medication is widely practiced among undergraduate medical students. In this situation, we should educate the students about advantages and disadvantages of self medication.
authors: Post Graduate Resident, Department of Pharmacology, M.R. Medical College , Gulbarga, Karnataka, India .
authors: Shivaraj B
authors: SB
authors: Patil
authors: Professor and Head, Department of Pharmacology, M.R. Medical College , Gulbarga, Karnataka, India .
authors: Vardhamane
authors: V
authors: S H
authors: Professor, Department of Pharmacology, M.R. Medical College , Gulbarga, Karnataka, India .
authors: Patil
authors: P
authors: B V
authors: Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, M.R. Medical College , Gulbarga, Karnataka, India .
authors: Jeevangi
authors: J
authors: Santoshkumar
authors: Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, M.R. Medical College , Gulbarga, Karnataka, India .
authors: Ashok S
authors: AS
authors: Binjawadgi
authors: Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, M.R. Medical College , Gulbarga, Karnataka, India .
authors: Anand R
authors: AR
authors: Kanaki
keywords: Antibiotics; Generic drugs; Over the Counter; Questionnaire
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