Prevalence, awareness, and patterns of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory/pain relief drug use among Undergraduates in Delta State, Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

Background: This study aims to offer insights into the knowledge, awareness and prevalence that exists among undergraduates in Delta State regarding the appropriate use of NSAIDs and other pain relievers. Methods: This study was a simple, randomly selected cross-sectional descriptive study that utilize a pre-tested questionnaire from a similar study for data collection. The questionnaire was well structured and pretested, comprising 19 open and closed-ended questions, including sub-questions that covered topics from social demographics to knowledge and prevalence. For associations with demographic variables, data analysis employed frequency and percentage counts, as well as chi-square inferential statistics. A p-value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The study found that 56.8% of participants were female, mostly aged 21-25. Painkiller use was prevalent at 83.3%, with common choices being Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Diclofenac, and Indomethacin for various pains. Effectiveness influenced drug selection for 26.5% of respondents, while healthcare professionals prescribed 33% of the drugs used. For pain management, 45.9% sought hospital advice, and 27% visited chemists. Additionally, 54% of respondents knew the correct dosage, but only 48.3% adhered to it. Over 20.3% rated their awareness of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) as good. Common side effects included sweating, heartburn, chest pain, and stomach pain. The P-values for associations between sociodemographic variables and prevalence were 0.250 for gender and 0.0001 for both age and ethnicity respectively. Conclusion: The study revealed that over half (54%) of respondents had good knowledge of NSAIDs and a high prevalence (83.3%) of NSAID use, with 30% of respondents stating their awareness of ADRs associated with undergraduate students in Delta State. The high prevalence of NSAIDs use underscores the need for continued public health education on the safe and effective use of these medications.