KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF SELF-MEDICATION AMONG THE SECOND YEAR MBBS STUDENTS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL: A QUESTIONNAIRE BASED STUDY

Introduction: Self-medication is becoming more and more common in our daily lives but it’s an unhealthy and risky habit. It assumes that second year MBBS students holds special significance as they start to deepen their knowledge about diseases and medications, which forms a critical foundation for their medical education and future practice. This is the only study conducted in the northeastern region of India till date. The objective of the study is to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding self-medication among second-year MBBS students at Silchar Medical College and Hospital. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a pre-formed questionnaire including both open and close ended questions among the second year MBBS students over a period of one month after taking written inform consent from the participants. Data was collected by using google form and result expressed as counts and percentage. Result: Out of 120 participants, 72(60%) were males and 48(40%) were females. Out of them total 116 students took self-medication and among them 90 students provided reasons in support of the notion that visiting a doctor for minor illnesses was unnecessary. Previous prescriptions were the major source of information about drugs and medical stores were the major source of drugs and PPI and antacids were the commonly used self-medication drugs. Conclusion: Self-medication on the basis of insufficient information should be discouraged as medical students will eventually provide healthcare to this nation, should have the knowledge about the risk of taking drugs without proper advice from a certified medical professional.