Self-Medication for Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTIs) Among Clinical Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices.

Abstract

BackgroundSelf-medication, defined as the use of medicines without prior professional consultation, is a widespread public health concern. When practiced inappropriately, particularly through the misuse of antibiotics, it contributes to adverse drug reactions and the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Medical students represent a population of particular interest, as their clinical knowledge may predispose them to self-treat conditions such as upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), which are predominantly viral and self-limiting. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of self-medication for URTIs and to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of clinical-phase medical students toward this behavior.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 165 clinical-phase MBBS students, including third-, fourth-, and fifth-year students and interns, selected by simple random sampling. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire adapted from World Health Organization guidelines, covering sociodemographic characteristics and knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding self-medication for URTIs. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25 and included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and correlation analyses, with statistical significance defined as p < 0.05.ResultsThe mean age of participants was 23.5 ± 2.25 years, with a nearly equal gender distribution. Three-quarters of students (74.5%) reported having self-medicated for URTIs, with community pharmacies serving as the primary source of medicines (71.5%). Only 21.2% of participants demonstrated good knowledge, while 54.5% showed moderate knowledge. Although 79.4% recognized the link between antibiotic misuse and AMR, 27.9% still believed antibiotics to be effective against viral URTIs, and 21.2% admitted to not completing prescribed antibiotic courses. Despite the majority (77.6%) holding negative attitudes toward self-medication in principle, unsafe practices remained prevalent. The year of study was significantly associated with both knowledge level and self-medication practices (p < 0.05).ConclusionSelf-medication for URTIs is highly prevalent among clinical-phase medical students, revealing a concerning disconnect between knowledge, attitudes, and actual clinical behavior. Addressing this gap will require reinforcing antimicrobial stewardship within medical curricula, strengthening clinical supervision, and implementing stricter regulation of over-the-counter antibiotic availability, all of which are essential steps toward promoting rational drug use and mitigating the escalation of antimicrobial resistance.