ArticleHealth science reports2024
The prevalence and causes of self-medication among medical university students in Iran during COVID-19 outbreak and its implications for public health and health systems: A cross-sectional study.
Article in Health science reports, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed.
- Self-medication with herbal remedies and pharmaceuticals for COVID-19 among healthcare students in Maputo.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Attitudes and behaviors concerning self-medication practices among adult urban population in Croatia: a cross-sectional study.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2026Article
- Prevalence and Determinants of Self‑Medication Among Adult Outpatients in a Rural Health Facility in Northern Uganda: A Cross‑Sectional Study.Patient preference and adherence · 2026Article
- Self-Medication as a Global Health Concern: Overview of Practices and Associated Factors-A Narrative Review.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Key modifiable risk factors for self-medication among university students: An observational study.Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy · 2024Article
- Self-medication in medical students in urban India: Exploring the extent of this dangerous practice.Journal of family medicine and primary care · 2024Article
- The prevalence and causes of self-medication among medical university students in Iran during COVID-19 outbreak and its implications for public health and health systems: A cross-sectional study.Health science reports · 2024Article
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
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Abstract
Background and Aims: Self-medication is a worldwide phenomenon that brings advantages and disadvantages to public health and health systems. This study investigated the extent and causes of self-medication among medical university students and its implications for public health in Iran in 2020. Methods: The present study was designed as a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study that examined the knowledge, attitude, and practice of self-medication. The population of the study was the students of health sciences programs who all entered the study. The data collection tool included a questionnaire designed online and available to students. The content validity ratio of the questionnaire was 0.84, and the alpha Cronbach coefficient was calculated at 0.8936. Results: The prevalence of self-medication among medical university students was 19%. The most common reason for self-medication was the safety of medicines (66.67%). The most usual form of medication used was the tablet (35.67%), the most common drug taken was acetaminophen (69.01%), and the most common disease to self-medicate for was headache (67.36%). Estimating the odds ratio of self-medication with demographic variables showed no relationship. However, after adjusting the variables, age and type of degree showed an association with self-medication, as the older participants and postgraduate students had positive attitudes toward self-medication. Conclusion: Self-medication may be helpful, but it often needs proper guidance and logic and can carry various risks. Considering that medical sciences students will be influential in society in the future, it is necessary to pay more attention to correcting their drug use culture and providing access to health services for everyone. Appropriate prescription of medicines, controlling drug sales in pharmacies, highlighting the role of pharmacists in safe self-medication, and controlling the prevalence of self-medication is necessary.
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