Awareness and Utilization Pattern of Over-the-Counter Painkillers amongst Health professional Students in a Medical University

Objective: Pain relievers are one of the most frequently purchased over-the-counter medications and are vulnerable to be misused, leading to safety concerns. This study was conducted to assess the awareness and self-medication practices of over-the-counter analgesics amongst health professions students in a medical university.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, after obtaining ethical approval, using a self-developed, pilot tested (n=40), valid questionnaire comprising three sections; sociodemography, student awareness, analgesic use pattern. A sample of 379 (calculated sample size, n=400) covering all health stream students proportionately from Gulf Medical University, Ajman, UAE, were studied during October-December 2018 and data analysed using descriptive statistics (Mean±SD, frequency), Chi square test, and independent t test at alpha =0.05.

Results: Total 379 respondents (male 38.5%; n=146, female 61.5%; n=233 with mean ± SD age of 19.76±2.109 years) were enrolled. Commonly used painkillers were paracetamol 47.3% (n=187), ibuprofen 24% (n=95) and aspirin 14.4% (n=57). Information available on package inserts were the source of information for 54.1% (n=119) respondents. Family and friends’ recommendations was reason for use of painkillers in 27.3% (n=93) of the students. Adverse effects mostly known were nausea 11.5% (n=92), drowsiness 8.9% (n=71) and vomiting 7.2% (n=58). Contraindications known were pregnancy 14.5% (n=225), liver disease 13.4% (n=208) and bleeding 13.3% (n=207). Findings showed 61.5% (n=233) were not aware of painkillers’ interactions with other medications.

Conclusion: Though students were aware of the usage of analgesics, the utilization pattern is high, suggesting the need for further in-depth investigations. Findings also showed the need for creating awareness among the students.