Research Article

Sedative drug self-medication practice, attitude, and knowledge among medical students at the University of Dongola during 2022

Abstract

Background: Self-medication with sedatives is a common problem worldwide, especially in developing countries. Medical students experience significant psychological stress and are therefore at higher risk of using sedatives. This study was undertaken to assess the prevalence and knowledge of sedative drug self-medication practice among medical students at the University of Dongola. Methods: A university-based cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students at the University of Dongola. Data was collected using pretested, self-administered questionnaires developed by the researchers after intensive searching and expert consultation. A total of 248 students were selected by the nonprobability-convenient sampling technique.
Results: Sedative drug self-medication prevalence was 41.1% among medical students. The main reasons for practicing sedative drug self-medication were sleep disorders, allergies, saving time, and stress. Moreover, 54.8% of participants have knowledge about sedative drugs. The most common sources of information about sedative drugs were pharmacists (38.23%), doctors (36.27%), friends (10.78%), and family (8.82%). The most commonly utilized sedative drugs were anti-allergic (19.8%), antitussives (18.1%), diazepam (7.2%), thiopental (3.6%), and alprazolam (2.4%). Furthermore, 68.5% of participants accept that sedative drugs could be harmful and are associated with adverse effects.
Conclusion: Our study revealed that self-medication with sedative drugs was less prevalent among medical students at the University of Dongola, Sudan. Furthermore, the medical students showed more knowledge and attitude toward self-medication with sedative drugs.