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Background <p>The WHO estimates that more than two-thirds of university students engage in this practice. This study aims to determine the prevalence, knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to self-medication, along with the determinants that influence these behaviors, among higher education students in Pakistan.</p> Methodology <p>A total of 1346 students participated in a cross-sectional multicenter study from across Pakistan. The data was collected using a structured 28-item questionnaire (Cronbach’s α value: 0.85 to 0.89), using a convenience sampling technique.</p> Results <p>The overall prevalence of self-medication was 59.88% among the higher education students. Self-medication was more prevalent among female students, but it was not statistically significant in AOR (64.18%, COR = 1.25, 95% CI 1.05–1.70, p = 0.008, AOR = 1.07, 95% CI 0.91–1.25, p = 0.061). Additionally, the prevalence of self-medication was higher among students aged &gt; 21 (63.79%, COR = 1.46, 95% CI 1.20–1.98, p = 0.001, AOR = 1.18, 95% CI 1.03–1.40, p = 0.011). The health sciences students possessed a higher level of self-medication-related knowledge (M: 4.39, p &lt; 0.001), but they demonstrated poorer self-medication practices (M: 3.53, p = 0.004) compared to non-health sciences students. Participants reported using a range of pharmacological agents for self-medication, including antibiotics (29.00%), multi-vitamins (22.00%), anti-allergics (18.00%), cold remedies (13.00%), eye drops (8.00%), nose sprays (6.00%), steroids (2.00%), and others (2.00%). Students also reported using artificial intelligence (AI), social media, and internet resources as sources for students to get knowledge regarding self-medication (13.00%), to seek advice before starting medication (9.14%), and get guidance in case of medication-related adverse effects (5.00%). Most of the participants (64.00%) reported storing 1 or more boxes of medication in their house for future use.</p> Conclusion <p>The prevalence of self-medication was high among higher education students in our study. Additionally, the students are using on digital health resources for self-medication-related practices. Our study highlights the trends in self-medication among higher education students, guiding public health policymakers regarding self-medication interventions.</p>

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Self-medication among higher education students: prevalence, risk factors, and health information-seeking behaviours

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年8月1日

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  • Abdul Sami,
  • Rashid Tahir,
  • Muhammad Tariq Bakhshi,
  • Muhammad Ahsan Javed,
  • Dilber Uzun Ozsahin,
  • Yasir Waheed

摘要

Background

The WHO estimates that more than two-thirds of university students engage in this practice. This study aims to determine the prevalence, knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to self-medication, along with the determinants that influence these behaviors, among higher education students in Pakistan.

Methodology

A total of 1346 students participated in a cross-sectional multicenter study from across Pakistan. The data was collected using a structured 28-item questionnaire (Cronbach’s α value: 0.85 to 0.89), using a convenience sampling technique.

Results

The overall prevalence of self-medication was 59.88% among the higher education students. Self-medication was more prevalent among female students, but it was not statistically significant in AOR (64.18%, COR = 1.25, 95% CI 1.05–1.70, p = 0.008, AOR = 1.07, 95% CI 0.91–1.25, p = 0.061). Additionally, the prevalence of self-medication was higher among students aged > 21 (63.79%, COR = 1.46, 95% CI 1.20–1.98, p = 0.001, AOR = 1.18, 95% CI 1.03–1.40, p = 0.011). The health sciences students possessed a higher level of self-medication-related knowledge (M: 4.39, p < 0.001), but they demonstrated poorer self-medication practices (M: 3.53, p = 0.004) compared to non-health sciences students. Participants reported using a range of pharmacological agents for self-medication, including antibiotics (29.00%), multi-vitamins (22.00%), anti-allergics (18.00%), cold remedies (13.00%), eye drops (8.00%), nose sprays (6.00%), steroids (2.00%), and others (2.00%). Students also reported using artificial intelligence (AI), social media, and internet resources as sources for students to get knowledge regarding self-medication (13.00%), to seek advice before starting medication (9.14%), and get guidance in case of medication-related adverse effects (5.00%). Most of the participants (64.00%) reported storing 1 or more boxes of medication in their house for future use.

Conclusion

The prevalence of self-medication was high among higher education students in our study. Additionally, the students are using on digital health resources for self-medication-related practices. Our study highlights the trends in self-medication among higher education students, guiding public health policymakers regarding self-medication interventions.