Potential Drug Therapy Problems Associated with Self-Medication Among Students of a Nigerian Tertiary Educational Institution (Research Article)

Author(s): *O, O. Ogunleye and O. J. Oguntokun, 1Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.

Abstract: Background and Aim: Self-medication practice constitutes an important aspect of self-care, and it is highly prevalent globally. The potential drug therapy problems associated with the practice are yet to be widely studied. This study evaluated these potential problems among a category of students that have received lesser attention. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study of self-medication practices and associated drug therapy problems among 400 students of Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, north-Eastern Nigeria. Information obtained using a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire on self-medication practiced within preceding 3 months including presumed diagnosis, drugs used, dosing, duration, outcome and follow-up steps. Descriptive analysis carried out with summaries in percentages and proportions using SPPS version 22. Results: The overall prevalence of self-medication in the population was 73.25%, more in males (45.5%). The most diagnosis for which self-medication was practiced included presumed malaria (25.2%), Aches (Stomach/Back/Mensural) -16.0%, cold/catarrh (15.4%) and headache (13.0%) with evidence of incorrect knowledge of the symptoms of treated diseases. Analgesics were the mostly used class of drugs (33.6%) followed by the use of antibiotics in monotherapy or combinations with other classes of drugs (29.6%) with indications of inappropriate uses. Other drug therapy problems were incorrect dosing (39.1%), incorrect frequency (47.5%0 and incorrect duration of use (53.4%) and inappropriate steps taken following non-recovery. Conclusions: Self-medication practice is highly prevalent among the student population studied with indications of inappropriate uses including potentials for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). There is a need for the formulation and implementation of measures to achieve responsible self-medication in the population.

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