Evaluation of Self-Medication Practices and Awareness among Students in Al Qassim Region of Saudi Arabia

Objective: The aims of this study were to evaluate the student’s knowledge, awareness and the reasons behind self medication in two higher education institutes in Al Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. Subjects and method: This pre-validated anonymous questionnaire was used in English and Arabic language that contains both open ended and close ended questions and it was distributed among students of two higher education institutes of Al Qassim region i.e. Buraidah Private Colleges and Qassim University. A total number of 61 students from Buraydah Private Colleges studying in different levels belong to pharmacy, dentistry and nursing college participated in this study and 71 students of final year medical college in Qassim University participated in the study. The data has been analyzed by descriptive statistics and summarized in frequencies and percentages. Results: Self medications were very common among students of Qassim University (QU) and Buraydah Private Colleges (BPC) and about more than two third students have practiced self medication in past year prior to this study. Majority of participants in our study self medicate for one week to treat self-recognized or self-diagnosed conditions and most of them obtained their medication from pharmacy. About one half of BPC students and slightly more than one half QU students used antibiotic as self medication. The awareness of rational use of medicine was found 63.3% among QU students and 45 % in BPC students. The highly significant difference (p< 0.05) was observed between the students of QU and BPC about the rational use of medication. The main reason for self medication in our study was found to be non serious health problems and quick relief. Conclusion: The self medication practice among students of two higher educational institutes of Al Qassim region was high and often inappropriate. There was an alarming self medication of antibiotics among students that was obtained from local pharmacies without prescription