title: Self-medication with analgesics among medical students and interns in King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence and predictors of self-medication with analgesics among senior medical students and interns in King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted among 504 participants in 2013. A multistage stratified random sampling was used. A confidential, anonymous & self-administered questionnaire was used to collect personal & socio-demographic data. Data about self-medication and self-medication with analgesics during the preceding 6 months were also inquired. Both descriptive and analytical statistics were done by SPSS version 18 & Epi-Info.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the 6 months preceding the study, 75.2% and 55.4% of participants used self -medication & analgesic self-medication, respectively. The first predictor of utilization of analgesic self-medication was living with family (aOR; 1.96, 95% CI: 1.22-3.14), followed by age >21 years & non- professional jobs of fathers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alarming high rates of self medication and self-medication with analgesics were observed among medical students and interns. Self-medication needs improvement through educational, regulatory and managerial strategies.
authors: Prof. Nahla Khamis Ibrahim, MBBS, MPH, DHPE, PhD.Family and Community Medicine Department, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Epidemiology Dept., High Institute of Public Health,Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors: Nahla Khamis
authors: NK
authors: Ibrahim
authors: Dr. Banan Mohammad Alamoudi, MBBS. Family and Community Medicine Department, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Banan Mohammad
authors: BM
authors: Alamoudi
authors: Dr. Wejdan Omar Baamer, MBBS. Intern, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Wejdan Omar
authors: WO
authors: Baamer
authors: Dr. Rajaa Mohammad Al-Raddadi, MBBS, PhD. Consultant Community Medicine, Ministry of Health, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Rajaa Mohammad
authors: RM
authors: Al-Raddadi
keywords: Analgesics; Medical students; Self-medication