Abstract:
Background: Self-medication has become a significant global health concern, particularly in
developing countries, due to risks like delayed diagnosis, adverse drug interactions, and potential
health complications. The COVID-19 pandemic heightened this issue as lockdowns and
overburdened healthcare systems led individuals to rely on self-treatment. Misuse of drugs,
including paracetamol, ibuprofen, and hydroxychloroquine, often led to severe side effects. In Sri
Lanka, limited research exists on self-medication among pharmacy students, necessitating an in-
depth exploration of their behaviours, motivations, and consequences of such practices.
Objectives: To identify the drugs self-medicated for COVID-19 by pharmacy undergraduate
students at the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Ruhuna, and to identify common
side effects experienced
Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey using convenience sampling, was conducted
among pharmacy undergraduate students (n=79) to collect data on self-medication practices
during the COVID-19 pandemic. The questionnaire included questions on demographic
information, types of drugs used, sources of information, and side effects experienced. The survey
was conducted in 2023.
Results: Majority of the students were between 22-24 years old (69.6%) and females (75.9%). It
was revealed that a majority of students engaged in self-medication. The most commonly used
drugs were paracetamol (58.2%), vitamins (39.2%), cetrizine (31.6%), chlorpheniramine (27.8%),
omeprazole (17.7%) and amoxicillin (13.9%). Most students had used paracetamol for fever
(24.1%) and headache (21.5%), amoxicillin for fever (7.6%), cetrizine (17.7%), and
chlorpheniramine (8.9%) for runny nose. Common side effect experienced was abdominal
discomfort (15.8%).
Conclusions: This study provides insights into the self-medication practices among pharmacy
undergraduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings highlight the need for better
education and regulation to ensure safe medication practices and to address the reasons behind
self-medication. Further research in the area is suggested to find the misuse of medicines due to
self-medication.
