| Abstract [eng] |
Aim of study. To evaluate knowledge and attitude of health care students towards self-medication and its use in society. Study methods. Online survey was conducted in April on 2023. In total 187 students of health care responded to the survey, mainly those, studying medicine and pharmacy. The largest number of respondents were first- and second-year students. Statistical analysis was conducted using „IBM SPSS 26“ program. For graphical analysis, „Microsoft Office Excel“ was used. Significancy level P < 0,05. Study results. The survey was conducted among 1st-6th year health care students of which there were 83 (44,4%) 1st-2nd year, 72 (38,5%) of 3rd-4th year and 32 (17,1%) respondents of 5th-6th year. Most of the them practiced self-medication at least once (95,7%, P<0,05), mainly for symptoms such as common cold (96,1%), body pain (95%) and disturbed digestion (76,5%). 61,5% of students have negative, while 14,4% have neutral and 24,1% have positive attitude towards self-medication. Most of the impact on attitude was caused by personal experience (n = 163, P<0,05) and information obtained during study courses (n = 162, P<0,05). Biggest variety of information overall is prevalent between 5th–6th year students. Most of them (71,9%,P<0,05) received enough information about self-medication, while 1st-2nd year students did not (24,1%). More than half (55,6%, P>0,05) of respondents’ attitude became more negative with biggest prevalence between 5th-6th year students (75%, P<0,05). Half of the students do not check the reliability of sought information (54%, P>0,05), while most carefully the reliability is being checked by 5th–6th year students. Information received during studies did not have an impact on attitude towards applying self-medication to themselves for 42,2% 1st–2nd year students, 62,5% of 3rd–4th year and 65,7% of 5th–6th year students. When feeling ailments, 5th–6th year students prefer treating them according to information provided by study courses (71,9%) compared to 1st–2nd year students (30,1%). Most of respondents – 83,4% (P<0,05) prefer using their own experience and knowledge to treat mild ailments. Most of students agree (82,3% (P<0,05) that before choosing treatment themselves, consultation with specialist is necessary, but they still choose self-medication when feeling slightly ill (83,42%, P<0,05). Lack of knowledge about self-medication to consult patients is mostly felt between 1st–2nd year students (91,6%), while 59,4% 5th–6th year students feel having enough knowledge for it. 88% of 1st–2nd year students think, that wider reach of OTC medicines is positive phenomenon, but the agreement lessens with years: (59,7% among 3rd–4th year and 46,9% among 5th–6th year students). Most of students agree with state regulation of medicines and think, that tightening (89,4%) or softening (74,9%) those regulations is not needed (P<0,05). 93,1% (P<0,05) of respondents think that society is uneducated regarding self-medication, incapable of choosing right treatment (89,6%, P<0,05), and agree that society needs to be additionally educated about self-medication impact (96,7%, P<0,05). Most of respondents also think, that society is incapable of choosing the right medicine for specific symptoms (80,7%, P<0,05) and evaluating possible drug interactions and side effects (94,2%, P<0,05). Conclusions. Health care students have a negative attitude towards self-medication, which mostly is decided by information about benefits and risks, provided by studies. In students’ opinion, information, provided by studies is lacking, but overconfidence of their own knowledge determines more frequent self-medication usage for mild ailments, but they still do not recommend it for future patients. Overall students’ approach on self-medication in society is critical. It is because of society’s inability to receive and evaluate the right information. They also agree that society needs to be additionally educated about self-medication risks. |
