Exploring self-medication patterns among students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan: A comparative analysis between medical and non-medical disciplines.

Objective: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with self-medication among students with medical and non-medical backgrounds in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Medical and Non-medical Universities of Peshawar. Period: May to October 2022. Methods: For this comparative analysis, sample size was calculated based on the formula of Cochran, taking a 95% confidence level with 5% precision. The sampling was conducted using a non-probability convenience approach. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed with the help of SPSS v.25. Results: A study sample of 427 participants with a 95% response yielded 212 medical students and 215 non-medical students. The prevalence of self-medication among medical and non-medical students was 35.36% and 39.35%, respectively. The occurrence of self-medication was reported as 7% daily, 11% weekly, 11% fortnightly, and 71% monthly. Among the reasons for self-medication, headache was the most common (49.65%), followed by cough/sore throat/cold (31.85%), fever (26.46%), generalized body aches (17.56%), heartburn/indigestion (14.75%), nausea/vomiting (9.36%), constipation (4.91%), anxiety/depression (4.68%), and insomnia (3.51%), while 8.89% constitutes other factors like allergies, skin rashes, and weight loss. The main reason for self-medication was the mild nature of the illness, which accounted for 31.85% of cases. Conclusion: The study indicated a considerable number of student population involved in self-medication practices. The prevalence of this behavior is slightly more common among non-medical students than medical students. Various factors contribute to self-medication ranging from physical symptoms to mental health issues.