Abstract:
Background: A common human experience is coping with disorder or illness. However, the
reaction of the person to such a condition is based on specific individual values and some other
underlying factors that contribute to self-care or self-medication. As a result of the escalation
of antibiotic self-medication practices, it has turned out to be fatal in terms of antibiotic
resistance, which has led to increased awareness of the reasons that arise from self-medication.
Objectives: To find the prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics (SMA) and reasons for
self-medication and to find the knowledge of SMA among the students in a private institute
in Sri Lanka
Methods: The research was conducted as a descriptive cross-sectional study using a self administered questionnaire. Data were collected among students in a private institute in Sri
Lanka. The study sample consisted of 110 students who are following Diploma programs on
Nursing, Biomedical Sciences, Physiotherapy, and Foundation programs. The sample was
selected using a simple random sampling technique.
Results: The prevalence of SMA was much higher (n = 93, 84.5%). Around 23% (n = 25) of
students who mentioned on SMA rarely visited a qualified medical practitioner. The reasons
in favor of SMA were; quick relief (n = 28, 25.5%), convenience (n = 18, 16.4%),
unwillingness to visit a doctor for minor illnesses (n = 41, 37.3%). Moreover, easy
accessibility to medical stores (n = 56, 50.9%) and availability of medicines at home (n = 31,
28.2%) were seen as factors for SMA. More than 50% of the study participants had good
knowledge on SMA such as; antibiotic resistance, usage of antibiotics for the recovery of
viral infections, and speed of recovery of cold and cough.
Conclusions: Though most students have good knowledge on SMA, there is a high prevalence
of SMA among the students. To prevent this problem, strict policies on the sale of medicines
need to be put in place.
