ABSTRACT
Background: Antibiotics are wonder drugs as they prevent and treat bacterial infections. However, their irrational use even by wrong prescribing behaviour of physician leads to antibiotic resistance medical students are future doctors and are provided knowledge and practice of antibiotics in treatment, and prevention of diseases in their study curriculum of second professional course mainly in chapters of pharmacology and microbiology. Therefore, the present study was to determine the second-year medical students’ knowledge, attitude and perception regarding antimicrobial use and resistance.Methods: Study was conducted on second professional undergraduate medical students from Government Medical College, Jammu. 140 students participated, and informed consent was taken prior to study. A validated questionnaire comprised of 20 questions was provided to them and responses were recorded. Questionnaire was comprised of 20 questions (13 questions attributed to knowledge of antibiotics usage and resistance, six to attitude and one question regarding perception).Results: The students showed fair knowledge about antibiotics and resistance. Percentages of fully correct answers was between 63-100% regarding knowledge of antibiotics. The attitude results revealed that self-medication by the student was observed in 67%, while 70% agreed that they had left over antibiotics at home, but only 42% committed that they take these left over antibiotics. As far as practice was concerned the maximum students consult text books as source of knowledge regarding resistance followed by Wikipedia.Conclusions: The current study observed high score of knowledge than attitude in medical students regarding antibiotic usage and resistance and increasing influence of internet like Wikipedia. This underscores the need for more effort in updating the students regarding antibiotic usage and resistance and laying more emphasis in the core curriculum of their academics.
ABSTRACT
Background: Comparative studies are quite useful in evaluating the current practices in self medication among a similar subset of population. Since, self medication is one of the major causes of promoting irrational use of drugs its burden needs to be estimated more so in students with medical background.Methods: The study was conducted in a tertiary care teaching medical college among MBBS and BDS students. A questionnaire was selected based on outcome of small surveys done prior to this current study was among the MBBS and BDS students to assess their Knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) towards self medication. Data was analyzed and expressed as numbers and percentage.Results: Total 180 students participated in the study voluntarily (100 MBBS and 80 BDS). Knowledge regarding self medication was more seen in MBBS students as compared to dental students. Only five of MBBS students encountered ADR’s(Adverse drug reactions) due to self medication. Analgesic group of drugs was the most common medication used by both the groups and pain was the chief component for which drug therapy was used.Conclusions: This study showed that students had fair knowledge about self medication but it appeared to be more among MBBS students as compared to BDS, although knowledge about ADR’s was not up to the mark. The attitude and practice of self medication was similar in both the groups. Thus, it is important to impart proper knowledge about self medication among medical students and encouragement regarding ADR teaching should be promoted.
ABSTRACT
Background: Dysmenorrhea is a very common condition in females in fertile age group and its affective and somatic features often limit female mobility which results in loss of work hours. The aim of the study was to evaluate prevalence, severity, drug usage and loss of work days among young female medical students.Methods: The current questionnaire based study was done in Department of pharmacology, GMC Jammu over a period of 3 months. Female students aged between 17-24 years who consented for participation were included. The demographic profile and detailed history of dysmenorrhea was recorded.Results: Out of 342 participants, 218 females (63.7%) had history of dysmenorrhea. Most of the dysmenorrhic females had menarche between 13-14 yrs of age (73.3%) and menstrual cycle of 21-34 days (82.5%), duration of bleeding less than 6 days (91.6%) and had a positive family history of dysmenorrhea (58.7%). Majority of females had mild to moderate features of dysmenorrhea (93.4%). Most common medication was Mefenemic acid alone and in combination (90.5%). Most of the females took self-medication (69.8%) and only 30.2% took medicines on advice of doctor. 71.5% students missed their classes due to symptoms of dysmennorhea.Conclusions: Dysmenorrhea is quite prevalent among college going medical students. Most of them had positive family history. Mefenemic acid and its combination was frequently used to treat symptoms. On an average 1-2days were lost due to dysmenorrhea.