14
TH
ASIAN CONFERENCE ON CLINICAL
PHARMACY, OCTOBER 31
st-NOVEMBER 3
rd2014,
KUALA TERENGGANU, MALAYSIA
Drug Utilization in Self Medication Practice among Students of
University of Sumatera Utara
Oleh:
Nasution A, Lubis FRW, Rosidah
FAKULTAS FARMASI
DRUG UTILIZATION
IN SELF MEDICATION PRACTICE AMONG STUDENTS OF
UNIVERSITY OF SUMATERA UTARA
Nasution A1, Lubis FRW1, Rosidah1
1Fakultas Farmasi, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia
Presented in Asian Conference on Clinical Pharmacy Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, 2014
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Self-medication practice to release symptoms and treat illness
sometimes can be misused because lack of knowledge about drugs. Objectives: This study aimed was to characterize the drug utilization and analyze the level of self medication error among students from 14 faculties in University of Sumatera Utara (USU), Indonesia. Methods: This study applied survey techniques by distributing a predetermined and validated questionnaire to the students (n = 384). Data obtained were descriptively analyzed using Statistical Product and Service Solution (SPSS) version 17. Results: Paracetamol, cold and cough drugs, and Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) were the most widely taken drugs. The most frequently disorders resolved by the students: fever, 25.5%; flu, 22,1%; pain, 22.1%; cough, 14.1%; diarrhea, 5,5%; ulcer, 5.5%. The knowledge level of the students about self medication was significantly unfavorable (p < 0.05). The level of self-medication error among the students was 40.1%. The most commonly occurred error was the duration of drug use. Conclusion: There was a wide range of drugs used in the practice of self medication among students of USU. Self medication among students of USU was still high. In the future, educations on safe use of drugs are required to avoid from their negative impacts.
INTRODUCTION
Self-medication is defined as the self use of any drug for the treatment of
self-recognized and
self-diagnosed disorders. In few developing countries, many drugs are provided
over the counter without consulting healthcare providers. Practice of
self-medication leads to various health-related problems including self-medication errors,
interactions, wrong therapy and dosage. All these problems can ultimately result in ineffective and negative impacts on individual’s quality of life.
Most of people in developing countries are unaware of the negative impacts of
self-medication on their health. A study on self-medication with antibiotics and
antimalarials among the community of Khartoum State Sudan in 2005 indicated
that . Another study on self medication practice among university students in
Palestine was also undertaken and showed that: Therapeutic and Toxicity
Implications . (2010). Assessment of Self Medication Practice Among Medical,
Pharmacy, and Health Science Student in Gondar University, Ethiopia.
There are a number of factors why individuals in these countries practice
self-medication. One of which is that a medicine is only required to treat mild
illnesses, thus, in this case, it is considered not necessary to see a doctor. Other
reason is the consequence of limited time to consult with health care providers.
The other reason is that health centers are difficult to reach by individuals like in
most developing countries. The other possible reason is that people are unable to
afford health care service (Ruiz ME, Pubmed 2010).
Assessment and identification of problems associated with practice of
self-medication are important to be undertaken to direct the policy maker for public
health educational programs. Education Programs as in U.S are required15.
Considering the high incidence of self-medication and knowing that if a patient
has knowledge about the disease, patient will be more careful about the practice of
self-medication and avoid its negative impact on their quality of life.
In response to the above problems this study was undertaken to characterize drug
utilization and analyze the level of self medication error among students from 14
METHODS
The study was undertaken to by distributing a predetermined and validated questionnaire to the second, third, fourth, and eight semester students recruited from fourteen faculties in USU. The University of Sumatera Utara is one of the biggest universities in Northern part of Sumatera. Therefore, it was selected as the location if this study. Inclusion criteria were students at the second, third, fourth, and eight semesters and willing to participate as the respondents in this study.
The sample population was calculated using Lameshow dan Lwanga formula as expressed below:
= � ��2
2. �. 1 − �
�. �2+ �� 2
2. �. 1 − �
In which:
n = sample size
N = population size = 31.403 students
Z = asumsi tingkat kepercayaan yang diambil peneliti adalah 95% dengan nilai Z
= 1,96
P = asumsi keragaman populasi yang dimasukan dalam perhitungan adalah
P (1-P), P = 0,5.
Data obtained were descriptively analyzed using Statistical Product and Service Solution (SPSS) version 17.
RESULTS
Out of 31.403 students of USU, 384 persons were recruited for this study. Characteristic of the students by gender is demonstrated in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Characteristic of the students by gender
47.70%
52.30%
According to academic level, distribution of the students is demonstrated in Figure 2. More than one fourth (26%) of the students were in the second semester. Nearly one fourth (24%) of them were in the fourth semester. The highest proportion (34%) of the overall respondents was in the sixth semester. There were only 15.60% of the respondents recruited from the eighth semester.
Figure 2. Distribution of the respondents by academic level
Drugs utilized by the students of USU in self-medication are demonstrated in Table 1. As shown in Table 1, a wide range of drugs were utilized by the students to relieve disorders. Paracetamol, cold and cough drugs, and Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) were the most widely taken drugs to relieve disorders suffered by the students. As shown in Table 1, more than one third (36.7%) of the students took paracetamol to relieve disorders.
Table 1. Drugs utilized by the student USU in self-medication
Drug used Utilization
The most frequently disorders resolved by the students: fever, 25.5%; flu, 22,1%; pain, 22.1%; cough, 14.1%; diarrhea, 5,5%; ulcer, 5.5%. This study revealed that knowledge level of the students about self medication was significantly unfavorable (p < 0.05). The level of self-medication error among the students was 40.1%. The most commonly occurred error was the duration of drug use.
CONCLUSION
There was a wide range of drugs utilized in the practice of self medication among students of USU. Self medication among students of USU was still high. In the future, educations on safe use of drugs are required to avoid from their negative impacts.
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