Prevalence of self-medication in dentistry and nursing academics in a Brazilian public institution
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7308/aodontol/2021.57.e04Keywords:
Self medication, Prevalence, Students dental, Students nursingAbstract
Aim: To determine the prevalence of self-medication in Dentistry and Nursing students at the State University of Piauí in the city of Parnaíba and to evaluate whether there is an association between this practice and the socioeconomic level and the sex of the students, as well as the level of theoretical and practical knowledge.
Methods: This study consists of a quantitative methodology of an applied and cross-sectional nature. The survey counted on the participation of individuals over 18 years of age and used a self-administered questionnaire with questions regarding self-medication and other independent variables. The obtained results were tabulated and subjected to statistical tests through descriptive and bivariate analysis. Mann-Whitney and ANOVA Kruskal-Wallis tests were used, together with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 21.0.
Results: This study’s sample counted on the participation of 70 students, 41 (58.6%) were from the Dental School and 29 (41.4%) of the Nursing Course, and self-medication was practiced by 97.1% of the students, predominantly among those who were at the beginning of the course (92.3%) (p < 0.05) and were female (98.1%) (p < 0.05), with no statistically significant variation as to family income or course in which the students are engaged (p > 0.05). In addition, the main pharmacological class used was analgesics.
Conclusion: The prevalence of self-medication was high and frequently reported to combat headaches. Academics reported that previous knowledge and experience helped them to choose self-administered drugs, with no association between this self-medication practice and the course of study and monthly income. In addition, this practice was statistically more prevalent in females among those students who were in the beginning of the undergraduate course.
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