title: Practices of self-medication with antibiotics among nursing students of Institute of Nursing, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
abstract: Self-medication practice among nursing students is of growing concern. Access to drugs and handling them in their future practices make nursing students susceptible to self-prescription and self-medication. This cross-sectional study assesses the prevalence and pattern of self-medication with antibiotics among nursing students of Institute of Nursing, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan. A random sample of convenience of 160 nursing students underwent a predesigned questionnaire. More than half of nursing students 79 (52.7%) experienced self-medication with antibiotics. It was more prevalent among males 49 (62%) . Knowledge about the drug 59 (74.7%) and convenience 13 (16.5%) were the key reasons to self-medicate. Fever 37 (46.8%) and sore throat 27 (34.2%) were the common symptoms predisposing to self-medication. Beta-lactam group of antibiotics 35 (44.3%) was most frequent used. Only 26 (32.9%) respondents completed the entire antibiotic course. Efforts must be directed towards educating nursing students about responsible and informed self-medication practices.
authors.affiliation: Nursing Student, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Dow University of Health Sciences, Ojha Campus, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Akbar Shoukat
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Nursing Student, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Dow University of Health Sciences, Ojha Campus, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Javed
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Nursing Student, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Dow University of Health Sciences, Ojha Campus, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Akbar Shoukat
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Nursing Student, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Dow University of Health Sciences, Ojha Campus, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Gomand Beekho
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Sonekhi
authors.affiliation: Nursing Student, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Dow University of Health Sciences, Ojha Campus, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Nargis
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fayyaz
authors.affiliation: Nursing Student, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Indus College of Nursing, Islamic Mission Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Zeeshan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zainulabdin
authors.affiliation: Nursing Student, Master of Science in Nursing, Institute of Nursing, Dow University of Health Sciences, Ojha Campus, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Rahim
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jindani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010154:Pakistan; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000188:drug therapy; D015995:Prevalence; D012651:Self Medication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Self-medication, Antibiotics, Nursing students.