Antibiotic Misuse among Medical Students in Sohag University

Background: Antibiotics are commonly used for self-medication due to their rapid effect in alleviating symptoms resulting in serious adverse effects. Medical students are more prone to self-medicate by virtue of their study of medical subjects and because the information needed for self-diagnosis and treatment are easily accessible. Objective: The study was conducted to investigate the pattern of antibiotics misuse among medical students in Sohag university and associated factors. Method: A cross sectional study was conducted among medical students of Sohag University during the academic year 2016-2017. Faculties of Medicine, Pharmacy and Nursing were chosen to be involved in the present study with a sample of 373 students in the fourth year in the selected faculties. A questionnaire was designed to obtain data about sociodemographic variables and antibiotic misuse pattern among the studied medical students. Results: Findings showed that 65.95% of the participants used antibiotics without doctor’s prescription. About one third (32.5%) selected the antibiotics depending on their own experience. By asking about their opinion about using antibiotics for self-health care, 35.1% of the participants considered it acceptable and 5.9% considered it a good practice. None of the studied variables was significantly associated with antibiotics misuse among the participants. Conclusion: Among the medical students in Sohag University, 65.95% reported that they self-medicate with antibiotics. It is necessary to focus on increasing the awareness about the problem and its adverse effects, with implementing strict measures to prevent dispensing of drugs, especially antibiotics, without doctor’s prescription.