Prevalence of Self Medication Practices among Dental Undergraduates Students Rohini P. Sankaravadivoo1, Dr. Pradeepa2, Dr. Rathinavelu Pradeep Kumar3,*, Dr. Indhiran Meignana Arumugham4, Dr. Duraikannan Srisakthi5 1Final Year BDS, Under Graduate Student, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha University, SIMATS, Chennai, India 2Tutor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha University, SIMATS, Chennai, India 3Reader, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha University, SIMATS, Chennai, India 4Professor, Department of Public Health dentistry, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha University, SIMATS, Chennai, India 5Reader, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha University, SIMATS, Chennai, India *Corresponding Author E-mail: drrpradeepkumar@gmail.com
Online published on 24 July, 2018. Abstract The aim of this study is to assess the self-medication practice among dental students. Materials and Method The descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among 100 patients reporting to the Saveetha Dental college. The patients were requested to answer the questionnaire. Datas were collected and analysed. Background Self-medication is universal phenomenon and it is widely practiced worldwide and often considered as a use of self-care. Self Medication means taking drugs without the advice of a physician and getting treatment. Results Findings revealed that 58% Respondent claimed to be involved in self medication. Drugs or drug groups commonly used for self-medication included analgesics (38%) followed by antibiotics (17%), antipyretics (15%), antidiarrhoeal (13%), antihistamines and antacids (6%) and vitamin tablets (5%). The disease for which self medications were commonly used were cough and common cold (35%) followed by fever (30%), diaarhoea (10%), allergy (8%), headache (6%), nausea and vomiting (7%) and ulcers (4%). 69% had no side effects and 31% had side effects Top Keywords Self medications, Prevalence, dental students, questionnaire study. Top |