Self-medication among nursing students in the state of Amazonas – Brazil

Gama, Abel Santiago Muri; Secoli, Silvia Regina

ABSTRACT

Objective

To determine the prevalence of self-medication and associated factors among nursing students.

Method

This is a cross-sectional study with 116 nursing students from the public university in the state of Amazonas, Brazil, from March to April 2014. Data were collected using a questionnaire with socioeconomic and medicine use variables. The data were subjected to bivariate analysis and logistic regression at a significance level of 5%.

Results

The prevalence of self-medication was 76.0%, chiefly motivated by the belief that the health condition did not require a medical appointment (46.6%). Half of the students reported pain-related complaints. The most commonly used pharmacological groups were non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (63.2%) and antibiotics (11.1%). Lack of awareness of the negative implications of self-medication was associated with self-medication (OR = 6.0).

Conclusion

The high prevalence of self-medication that may lead to adverse reactions reveals the students’ irrational use of medicines, especially considering the role of these future professionals in patient safety.

Self-medication; Students, nursing; Education, nursing; Drug utilisation; Patient safety; Risk-taking

[1] Corresponding author: Abel Santiago Muri Gama. E-mail: abelgama@usp.br

Variables	Self-medication						p*

	Yes		No		Total

	n (88)	(%)	n (28)	(%)	n (116)	(%)
Sex
Men	34	38.6	16	57.1	50	43.1	0.124
Women	54	61.4	12	42.9	66	56.9
Lives with someone
Yes	19	21.6	9	32.1	28	24.1	0.311
No	69	78.4	19	67.9	88	75.9
Course semester
1^st	23	26.1	8	28.6	31	26.7	0.431
3^rd	34	38.6	9	32.1	43	37.1
5^th	11	12.5	5	17.9	16	13.8
7^th	12	13.6	2	7.1	14	12.1
9^th	8	9.1	4	14.3	12	10.3
Aware of the negative implications of self-medication
Yes	72	81.8	27	96.4	99	85.3	0.068
No	16	18.2	1	3.6	17	14.7
Indicating medication to others
Yes	60	68.2	15	53.6	75	64.7	0.178
No	28	31.8	13	46.4	41	35.3