Pattern of Self-medication with Analgesics among Minia University students, Minia, Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Public Health, El-Minia Faculty of Medicine

Abstract

Introduction: Self-medication with analgesics is usually defined as intake of any analgesics for 
treating oneself without professional supervision to relieve an illness or a condition. Self-medication
with analgesics is an issue with serious global implications. This study it was aimed to determine 
pattern of self-medication with analgesics use among Minia University students, Minia, Egypt. Aim 
of study: to determine the prevalence of self-medication with analgesics among Minia University 
students and to identify the most common analgesics used and the causes of taking them. Methods: A 
cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of randomly selected students from Minia
University. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaire. Verbal consent was ensured 
before applying the questionnaire. The Chi square was performed using SPSS 20 to identify 
associations and differences. Results: The sample consisted of 758 students 64.5% females and 
35.5% male students. Prevalence of self-medication with analgesics was 95.9%. Out of which 71.5%
took paracetamol and 1.3% took tramadol without physician prescription. The most common cause of 
taking analgesic is headache followed by menstrual pain (48.7%) in female students and tooth, ear and 
throat pain (29.4%) in male students. Conclusion: Self-medication with analgesics by students is an 
important issue to be avoided. There is a need to raise the orientation and a health education to the 
curriculum of undergraduate students also raise the community awareness about these hazards 5and 
drawbacks.

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Minia Journal of Medical Research
Volume 31, Issue 1
January 2020
Pages 294-301

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