Practice Of Self-Medication Among Undergraduates
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Practice Of Self-Medication Among Undergraduates
Chapter one
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Medication is the act of eating drugs for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases. Correct medication is obtained by reporting any disease to a physician at a hospital or clinic, who diagnoses and provides the necessary medications to treat the problem. Pharmacists generally write such prescriptions at the drugstore (Femi-Oyewo et al, 2002).
Self-medication is described as the use of medications to treat a self-diagnosed ailment or symptoms, or the intermittent or limited use of prescribed drugs for chronic or recurring sickness or symptoms.
Over-the-counter medications are a type of self-medication in which the customer assesses his own condition and purchases a specific drug to treat it (WHO 2000).
Self-medication is frequently viewed as achieving personal independence from established Medicare. According to a joint statement issued by the International Pharmaceutical Federation and the World Self-medication Industry, self-medication is the use of non-prescription drugs by individuals on their own initiative. It also says that:
1. Self-care, including self-medication, has been a longstanding aspect of health care.
2. Nowadays, people are being encouraged to take more personal responsibility for their health and to gather as much sound information as possible from expert sources in order to make informed healthcare decisions.
3. The government and health insurers are increasingly pushing self-care, including self-medication where appropriate, as a way to slow the rate of increase in third-party funding for health care.
4. Pharmacists advise the public on everyday healthcare and play an important role in medicine supply and advice.
5. Advertising is effective in telling consumers about medications that are available without a prescription. It should always be responsible and not dissuade the individual from consulting a chemist or physician.
In general, humans have a variety of cures for any illness. Examples include fever, cold, catarrh, diarrhoea, constipation, indigestion, bodily pains, headaches, and so on.
Friends and even strangers are always willing to give advice on which drug to take; nevertheless, this can be risky, even if there is typically no immediate result.
This shows that self-medication has become a public health issue in our culture as a whole. Consider the fact that in Nigeria, most prescription pharmaceuticals are available without a prescription from pharmacies and patent medicine stores, as well as on the streets.
Self-medication is also defined as getting and ingesting medications without the advice of a doctor, whether for diagnosis, prescription, or surveillance treatment. It should be noted that drugs are substances that can have both positive and negative effects on the human body.
Medicines, while capable of curing, can also cause harm. The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines an undergraduate as a university or college student pursuing their first degree. Some studies have found alarming rates of self-medication in the student population.
A study titled “Evaluation of Antibiotics self-medication pattern amongst undergraduate students of Ahmadu Bello University (Main Campus), Zaria” conducted by the Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical, microbiology faculty of Pharmaceutical sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, discovered that the majority of respondents practiced self-medication.
And that self-medication with antibiotics was predominantly performed among students of health-related faculties, namely pharmaceutical sciences and medicine. The primary reasons indicated for self-medication with antibiotics were:
a. Assumed knowledge about antibiotics
b. Previous familiarity with the use
b. Lack of time for consulting
d. Attitude of school clinic personnel.
Antibiotics were taken for a variety of illnesses, including gastro intestinal tract infections, urinary tract infections, and skin infections. Furthermore, the academic environment contributes to young people’s involvement in self-medication.
This is because there is no parental monitoring, and it is the pupils’ first opportunity outside of the home to be a part of a larger group without any constraints or rules.
Also, higher institutions have been accused of being the last period of freedom before adulthood, which comes with obligations and duties, making students more vulnerable and gullible to try new things, no matter how destructive.
Despite various awareness and enlightenment campaigns, the practice of self-medication remains widespread. In order to combat self-medication, it is necessary to understand the elements that drive its practice.
This survey was conducted among undergraduates at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos State.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
As a medical professional, the researcher has observed that some cases of allergic responses and significant ill effects from drug use can be linked back to self-medication.
It has also been noted that an increasing number of persons presenting to hospitals for treatment engage in self-medication, which in most cases worsens their health.
Self-medication also leads to drug combinations, inappropriate therapy for the wrong problem, drug resentment, insanity, and even death. Self-medication is becoming more common among young people
which could be attributed to their experimental attitude. It is therefore necessary to evaluate the influence of self-medication among undergraduates at the University of Lagos.
1.3 Purpose of Study
The study’s goal is to look into the factors that impact self-medication among undergraduates at the University of Lagos.
1.4 Research Questions.
The study aims to answer the following questions:
1. How will peers impact the habit of self-medication among University of Lagos undergraduates?
2. Will the attitudes of school clinic staff influence self-medication among University of Lagos undergraduates?
3. Will over-the-counter drug sales influence self-medication among University of Lagos undergraduates?
4. Will the nature of the sickness influence undergraduates’ self-medication practices at the University of Lagos?
1.5 Research Hypotheses.
1. Peers will affect the practice of self-medication among undergraduates at the University of Lagos.
2. The attitude of school clinic staff will have no influence on the practice of self-medication among University of Lagos undergraduate students.
3. Over-the-counter medicine sales will have an impact on University of Lagos undergraduates’ self-medication practices.
4. The nature of the ailment would not influence the habit of self-medication among University of Lagos undergraduates.
1.6 Limitation of the Study
This study is limited to:
1. University of Lagos.
2. Undergraduate in the 100-500 level.
3. Four faculties: social sciences, environmental science, engineering, and education.
4. A self-created questionnaire.
5. Self-medication.
6. Determinant elements of peer impact include gender attitudes of school clinic staff, over-the-counter prescription sales, and the nature of the sickness.
1.7 Limitations of the study
During the study, the researcher faced the following limitations:
1. The quantity of surveys distributed does not adequately represent the University of Lagos.
2. There is little information available about the effects of self-medication.
3. Some students who were approached rejected to participate in the research.
1.8 Significance of the Study
The researcher hopes that this study would help the University of Lagos develop strategic strategies to address the practice of self-medication among its students. This work is intended to serve as a reference for future studies on this topic.
This study’s unique findings may provide insight into the factors that drive undergraduates at the University of Lagos to practise self-medication.
1.9 Operational Definition of Terms
Self-medication is the use of a substance without a doctor’s prescription to treat a perceived or actual illness, or to relieve discomfort or suffering.
Factors: Things that contribute or lead to the habit of self-medication.
Influence is a power that influences undergraduates’ decisions to practise or not practise self-medication.
Self-medication practice is doing it on a regular basis.
Undergraduates: Students pursuing a first degree at the University of Lagos, either full-time or on a sandwich basis.
Gender refers to whether the undergraduate is male or female.
Peers are people who are the same age, educational level, and social class as the undergraduate.
Over-the-counter: Medicines are sold directly to customers without a prescription from a healthcare practitioner.
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