Self-Medication with Antibiotics among Medical Students in Karachi: A Cross-Sectional Institution Based Study

Objectives: 1) To identify the factors responsible for students self-medicating with antibiotics in medical students at Sindh Medical College, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi. 2) To determine the class of self-medicating antibiotics used by medical students at Sindh Medical College, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi. Study Design: A Cross-sectional study. Study Place: Sindh Medical College Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi Study Duration: March 01, 2018 To June 04, 2018 Sampling Technique: Non-Probability Purposive Sampling Method: A cross sectional study was conducted on a sample size of 359 students. The sample was taken through non-probability convenient sampling from all 05 batches of Sindh Medical College, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi within the month of January 2018 and informed verbal consent was taken from the participants. A pilot study was conducted to assess the authenticity of the questionnaire. A structured questionnaire was then distributed, was filled out and the data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 23.0 with 95 % confidence interval in margin of error 5 % and p value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistical significance. Results: The percentage of self-medication among students of Sindh Medical College, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi is 52.1%. Age groups were (1618 = 14.5%, 19-21 = 58.2% and 22-24 = 27.3%). Participants from all years were (01st = 20.6%, 02nd = 19.5%, 03rd = 20.6%, 04th = 19.5% and 05th = 19.8%). The minimum days an antibiotic course should be continued from the collected data were (3-5 Days = 69.6%). The most hazardous outcome of using inappropriate antibiotics reported by the students was (Drug resistance = 40.4%). The most frequently used antibiotics were (Co-amoxiclav = 11.7%, Metronidazole = 5.8%). Students normally stop taking antibiotics (At the completion of course = 42.1%, After symptoms disappear = 31.5%, After consulting doctor = 10.6%). Conclusion: This study suggests that students of Sindh Medical College, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, were found to self-medicate themselves with antibiotics. However, knowledge about drug resistance is required at individual level in order to refrain from doing so. In consideration of these results, adequate measures should be taken to educate students regarding the hazardous side effects of antibiotics.