Medical and pharmacy students are taking medications on their own without doctor supervision more often than expected. Researchers surveyed students about why they do this and found that over half self-medicate at least once a month, usually for pain relief or using supplements. While these students are learning about medication safety in school, many still rely on internet searches instead of their training. The study shows that students want better education on this topic, and schools should create special classes to teach safer self-medication practices.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How often medical and pharmacy students take medications on their own without a doctor, why they do it, and what they know about the risks
  • Who participated: Medical and pharmacy students from one university who answered an anonymous survey about their self-medication habits
  • Key finding: More than half of the students surveyed said they take medications on their own at least once a month, usually painkillers or vitamins, even though they’re learning about medication safety in school
  • What it means for you: If you’re a student in health fields, this research suggests you should be more careful about taking medications without professional advice. Even though you’re learning about drugs, that knowledge might not be enough to keep you safe. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before taking new medications, and don’t rely only on internet information.

The Research Details

Researchers created a survey with questions about self-medication and gave it to medical and pharmacy students at one university. The survey was anonymous, meaning students didn’t have to write their names, so they could answer honestly. The questions asked how often students take medications on their own, what types of medications they use, why they do it, where they get information about medications, and what they think about their own knowledge. This type of study is called a cross-sectional survey because it takes a snapshot of what’s happening at one point in time, rather than following students over months or years.

This approach is important because it lets researchers understand real behaviors and attitudes of students without changing how they normally act. By asking many students the same questions, researchers can see patterns and common themes. The anonymous nature means students are more likely to tell the truth about taking medications without doctor supervision, which might be something they’re embarrassed about or worried could get them in trouble.

The study was conducted at a single university, so the results might not apply to all medical and pharmacy students everywhere. The paper doesn’t specify exactly how many students answered the survey, which makes it harder to judge how reliable the findings are. However, the study does provide useful information about a real problem that schools are concerned about, and the findings match what other researchers have noticed about healthcare students.

What the Results Show

The biggest finding is that more than half of the students surveyed take medications on their own at least once a month without seeing a doctor first. The most common medications they take are painkillers (like ibuprofen or acetaminophen) and dietary supplements (like vitamins). Students gave three main reasons for self-medicating: they recognized their own symptoms and thought they knew what to take, they felt confident in their own medical knowledge, and they wanted to avoid waiting times at health centers or doctor offices.

Another important finding is that despite learning about the dangers of self-medication in their university classes, students continued to do it anyway. This suggests that classroom learning alone isn’t enough to change their behavior. Additionally, when students needed information about medications, they often turned to the internet first rather than using what they learned in school or asking a pharmacist. Only 8% of students felt very confident that they could properly advise patients about self-medication, which is concerning since these students will soon be healthcare professionals.

The study found that over 70% of students wanted their university to add special classes about self-medication to their curriculum. This shows that students recognize the problem and want better education. The research also revealed that students understand there are risks to self-medication, but this knowledge didn’t stop them from doing it anyway. This gap between what students know and what they actually do is an important finding that suggests education needs to be more practical and focused on real-world situations.

This research confirms what other studies have found: healthcare students self-medicate more often than the general public, and they often don’t follow the safety practices they’re taught in school. The finding that students rely heavily on internet information matches other research showing that many people use online sources for health information without checking if those sources are reliable. The study adds to growing evidence that traditional classroom teaching about medication safety needs to be improved with more hands-on, practical training.

The study only looked at students from one university, so we don’t know if these findings apply to medical and pharmacy students at other schools. The paper doesn’t tell us exactly how many students participated, which makes it hard to know how representative the results are. The survey was anonymous, which is good for getting honest answers, but it also means researchers couldn’t follow up with students to get more details about their answers. The study is a snapshot in time, so we don’t know if students’ self-medication habits change over the course of their education.

The Bottom Line

If you’re a medical or pharmacy student, try to avoid self-medicating when possible and instead use your professional knowledge and resources properly. When you do need to take something, consult reliable sources like your textbooks, ask a pharmacist, or talk to a doctor rather than relying on internet searches. Schools should create better training programs that teach students how to safely handle their own health while modeling good practices for future patients. (Confidence level: Moderate - based on one university’s data)

Medical and pharmacy students should definitely pay attention to this research, as it directly affects their future ability to advise patients safely. Healthcare educators and school administrators should care because it shows a gap in current teaching methods. Patients should care because it suggests that some of their future healthcare providers may not have received adequate training on self-medication safety. General readers should care because it highlights the importance of not relying on internet information alone for medication decisions.

Changes in student behavior would likely take several months to a year to see if new educational programs are implemented. Schools that add better training could see improvements in student confidence and safer practices within one academic year. However, changing long-standing habits takes time, so ongoing reinforcement through the entire educational program would be most effective.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track each time you take any medication or supplement without consulting a healthcare provider. Record the medication name, reason for taking it, and where you got the information about it. This creates awareness of your self-medication patterns and helps you identify when you should consult a professional instead.
  • When you feel the urge to self-medicate, pause and use the app to log the situation. Before taking anything, check the app’s integrated resource guide for reliable medication information or set a reminder to ask a pharmacist or doctor first. This creates a moment of reflection between impulse and action.
  • Review your self-medication log weekly to identify patterns (specific times, symptoms, or situations that trigger self-medication). Set a goal to reduce self-medication incidents by 25% each month by replacing them with professional consultations. Track your confidence level in medication knowledge monthly to see if it improves with better information sources.

This research describes behaviors among healthcare students and should not be used as medical advice. Self-medication can be dangerous and may lead to incorrect diagnoses, drug interactions, or other health problems. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider, pharmacist, or doctor before taking any medication or supplement, especially if you have existing health conditions or take other medications. If you are a healthcare student, use your professional training and institutional resources rather than self-diagnosing and self-treating. This study is from a single institution and may not represent all healthcare students. For personalized medical advice, please speak with a licensed healthcare professional.