Self-Medication in University Students from the City of Mansoura, Egypt

Table 3

Explanations for self-medication.

Prevalence		%
Self-medication	503	62.9
No self-medication	297	37.1
Causes of self-medication (503)^#
No need to visit the doctor for a minor disease	372	73.9
Knowledge from previous experience	359	71.4
The doctor will prescribe me the same drug	155	30.8
Time and money saving	119	23.7
Fast relief	66	13.1
Chance to have experience	36	7.2
Absence of trust in health services	27	5.4
Unavailability of health service	15	2.9
Causes for not self-medicating (297)^#
Fear of adverse/ side effects	124	41.8
Lack of knowledge & experience	73	24.6
Lack of confidence	52	17.5
It is injurious to health	31	10.4
Prior bad experience with self-medication	17	5.7
Sources for self-medication (503)^#
Pharmacy clerk	352	69.9
Neighbors & family	313	62.2
Friends & classroom colleagues	204	40.6
Old prescription	169	33.6
My decision	152	30.2
Internet	148	29.4
Books & magazine	24	4.8
Academic effect on self-medication:
(i) knowledge gained in college makes students safer for self-medication	494	61.8
(ii) Changes observed in practice of self-medication as the students acquire more academic knowledge^#
More careful when I self-medicate	313	39.1
More concerned about adverse effects/side effects/interactions	180	22.5
More confident self-medicating	133	16.6
No change	86	10.8
I would rather use a prescription	75	9.4
(iii) Recent attitude towards self-medication^#
Reading the package leaflet of self-medicated drugs	710	88.8
I discourage friends and family from self-medicating	699	87.4
Believe what they read in the leaflet of medicinal products	698	87.2
I encourage friends and family to self-medicate	101	12.6
Total	800

are not mutually exclusive.