The study examines the prevalence of self-medication among undergraduate medical students at Alexandria Faculty of Medicine, finding that 52.7% of students engage in self-medication, with a notable increase in this behavior as education progresses. It highlights a lack of significant gender differences in self-medication practices but suggests that acquiring medical knowledge influences students' attitudes towards it. The authors recommend enhancing medical curricula to address the risks associated with self-medication and call for broader studies across multiple centers for more generalized results.

1. Self-medication among Undergraduate
Medical Students of Alexandria Faculty
of Medicine: Where do We Stand?
Marwa Desoky, Asmaa R Eltaweel, Tamer El Nakhal, Hanan M Hemead,
Abdelrahman E Maraqa, Doha H Abish , Reem E Eid, Azza Baraka
Faculty of Medicine-Alexandria University
Presented by/
Asmaa Rabie Eltaweel; MBBCH
Alexandria Students’ Hospital
Mentor : Prof. Azza Baraka

2. Published 2018-05-10

3. How did it start?

4. Research Question

7. Introduction
• Self-medication is the selection and use of medicines by individuals to
treat self-recognised illnesses or symptoms.(1)
(1)World Health Organization: Guidelines for the regulatory assessment of Medicinal Products for use in self-medication. WHO/EDM/QSM/00.1,
2000.

8. Objectives
• 1. Prevalence?
• 2.knowledge make students more confident using OTCs?
• 3. Gender difference?
• 4. Symptoms?

9. National level
55% (2)
62.9% (3)
(2) El Ezz NF, Ez-Elarab HS. Knowledge, attitude and practice of medical students towards self-medication at Ain Shams University, Egypt. J Prev Med Hyg 2011;52(4):196-200
(3) Helal R, Abouelwafa H. Self-medication in University students from the city of Mansoura, Egypt. J Enverion Public Health.2017; 2017:9145193

10. International level
57.5% (5)
44.8% (6)
68% (4)
76% (7)
(4) Bretagne JF, Richard Molyoivd B, Honnorat C, et al. Gastroesophageal reflux in the French general population: national survey of 8000 adults. Presse Med 2006;35:23-31.
(5) Banerjee I, Bhadury T. Self-medication practice among undergraduate medical students in a tertiary care medical college, West Bengal. J Postgrad Med2012;58(2):127.
(6) James H, Handu SS, Al Khaja KA, Otoom S, Sequeira RP. Evaluation of the knowledge, attitude and practice of self-medication among first-year medical students. Med PrincPract 2006;15:270-5
(7) Zafar SN, Syed R, Waqar S, et al. Prescription of medicines by medical students of Karachi, Pakistan: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health 2008; 19:162.

11. Methods
Study type:-
A Cross sectional study was conducted among undergraduate medical
students attending Alexandria Faculty of Medicine from both national
and international programs during the period of June 2013 until
October 2013.

12. Methods
Questionnaire:-

13. Methods

14. Methods
Sample size :-
A sample size of 360 was estimated using Epi Info 7 with the addition
of 15% to account for losses giving a total sample size of 408
students.
Sample size was calculated based on:-
• 95% confidence interval
• 5% confidence limits
• A prevalence rate of 55% as reported by a previous national study.

15. Methods
Sampling and settings:-
Studied subjects were selected using a stratified random sample of
students from the first to the sixth year with proportion allocation.
Purpose of study was explained and verbal consent was obtained
before administrating questionnaire.

16. Methods
• Data analysis using SPSS version 20.
• Approval of Ethical Committee in Faculty of Medicine-Alexandria
University was taken.

17. Results 408 students
395 (98.1%)
responded
208 students
(52.7%)
41% 59%

18. Figure 1: Percentage of self-medication per academic year

19. Figure (2): Frequency distribution of symptoms associated with self-
medication
34%
25%2%
9%
6%
10%
12%1%
1%
Symptoms associated with self-medication
Chest
Headache and Neurological
Dermatologic
Gastrointestinal
Stomach ache
General
Abdominopelvic
Ocular
Other

20. Figure (3) Reported advantages and disadvantages of self-medication
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Advantages of self medication

21. Figure (3) Reported advantages and disadvantages of self-medication
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
Disadvantages of self medication

22. Results
Behavior& attitude
• Only 10% of students reported that there was no change in self-
medication practice habits while acquiring medical knowledge
• 45% have become more careful
• 27% of students would prefer getting the prescription from a doctor.
• 25% would discourage self-medication.
• 23% became afraid of adverse effects.

23. Results
• Self-medication was reported by 208 (52.7%) students, with no
significant difference between males and females.
• The Highest percentage of self-medication was reported among
those who have completed six years of academic study and the
lowest was reported among those who have completed two years of
academic study.

24. Results
• There was a statistically significant association between the
educational stage (preclinical and clinical) and the practice
of self-medication.
• Most common medications involved were analgesic and
anti-inflammatory medication.
• 309 (78.8%) students believed that self-medication is
acceptable.

25. Conclusion
• The present study demonstrated that self-medication is practiced by
more than half of undergraduate medical students in Faculty of
Medicine- Alexandria University.
• Acquiring medical knowledge seems to be associated with the
practice of self-medication. Therefore, more attention should be paid
for medical curricula to raise awareness and limit the hazardous
effects of this phenomena.

26. Lessons learned
• This study is the first to assess the prevalence of self-medication among
undergraduate medical students in Alexandria Faculty of Medicine since
data were collected from all six undergraduate years using a stratified
random sampling methodology.
• On the other hand, the main limitation of the present study is the lack of
generalizability to represent all undergraduate medical students in Egypt
since students enrolled in Alexandria Faculty of Medicine are mainly from
four governorates; Alexandria, Behira, Kafr-Elsheikh and Matrouh so a
multi-centric study involving different governorates will be more valuable.

27. Acknowledgment
• Students of Alexandria Faculty of Medicine.
• Team Members.
• Prof. Azza Baraka and Dr. Marwa Eldesouky.

28. Our Take-Home Message
• Rejection
• Multicenter study
• Non medical students

29. Questions?

30. Thank you!