Prevalence and Practices of Self-Medication Among Pharmacy Students in Tripoli, Libya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54361/LJMR.19.2.33Keywords:
Self-medication, pharmacy students, antibiotic misuse, Tripoli, LibyaAbstract
Background: Self-medication (SM) is prevalent among university students, particularly in pharmacy programs, raising concerns about misuse and antimicrobial resistance. Aim: To assess the prevalence, conditions, treatments, and reasons for SM among pharmacy students in Tripoli, Libya. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2023 to June 2024 at a Tripoli university. Of 140 invited students, 95 responded (67.9%) via a self-administered questionnaire. Results: SM prevalence was 90.5% (86/95), with 89.9% of females and 93.8% of males self-medicating. Headache and common cold (84.2% each) were the most treated conditions, with analgesics (82.1%), antibiotics (67.4%), and vitamins (74.7%) commonly used. The Internet was the primary information source (42.1%). Prior experience with illness (69.5%) and drugs (67.4%) drove SM. No significant gender differences were found (P>0.05). Conclusion: findings of high SM prevalence, especially antibiotic misuse (67.4%), highlight the need for educational interventions and stricter regulations in medicines and health care providers.
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