Abstract:
Self-medication (SM) is a common practice among
university students as a part of self-care. Allied Health
Science (AHS) students may have different behaviors and
views on SM, as they expose to medication knowledge
more comparing to other university students. Sri Lanka
lacks such evidence and this cross sectional study was
performed to evaluate the practice of SM among AHS
undergraduates along with their knowledge and
attitudes. A self-administered questionnaire was
administered among 233 AHS undergraduates of
University of Ruhuna. The prevalence of SM among AHS
undergraduates was found as the 93.1%. 1st year and
Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS) undergraduates had
higher prevalence of SM. Antipyretics and vitamins were
the most commonly reported types of medications
consumed which were obtained from pharmacies most
frequently. Headache and fever were commonly reported
ailments for SM. The major reasons indicated for SM
were to save time and prior experience of the illness while
using the academic knowledge as the source of
information. Most of the undergraduates had high and
moderate level of knowledge with positive attitudes.
Degree programme was associated with prevalence of
SM and level of knowledge on SM. Rise of awareness of
the undergraduates on implications of medications was
suggested by most of the students significantly. This
study revealed SM as a common practice among AHS
undergraduates as a part of self-care and they practice
SM with high level of knowledge and positive attitudes.
