Medication storage and self-medication behaviour amongst female students in Malaysia

Medication storage and self-medication behaviour amongst female students in Malaysia

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Objectives: The aims of this study are to determine the prevalence, attitudes and behaviours of medication storage and self-medication amongst female students at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted and cluster random sampling technique was used for respondent selection.A pre-piloted questionnaire was administered to female respondents so as to collect the data.Data was analyzed using SPSS version 12 and analysis was conducted using descriptive analysis procedures.Results: Of the 481 participants (mean age; SD was 22.

1; 3.3), 93.1% (n=448) students stated that they stored medicine in their rooms, while 70.7% (n=340) stated that they stopped taking a prescribed medicine without consulting a doctor.The prevalence of self-medication Innerspring Mattress was 80.

9% (n=389).The most common reasons for self-medication were related to their knowledge of their ailment and its treatment (58.0%), 14.4% thought it saved time and 8.5% mentioned that medication given by provider was not effective.

The most common symptoms were otorhinolaryngology problems (22.5%), followed by respiratory disease (19.6%), Gastro Intestinal Tract (GIT) disease (18.1%) and headache/fever (16.8%).

Commonly used medicines were analgesics & antipyretics (30.2%), ear, nose & throat drugs (10.8%), vitamins & minerals (10.8%), GIT drugs (8.5%), anti-infections (7.

3%) and herbal medicines (3.5%).Prevalence of medicine storage and self-medication practice is high among educated female students in USM.Conclusions: There is a need to educate the students to ensure safe practice by increasing their awareness.Strict XLR/Speakon Connectors policies need to be implemented on the unrestricted availability of medicines so as to prevent the wastage of medicines.