Analysis of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Self-Medication Among Students and Staff of a Caribbean Medical School

Background Self-medication is commonly practiced, especially among medical students, administrative staff, and faculty from preclinical and paraclinical departments, driven by accessibility, familiarity with medications, and perceived convenience. This study explored the incidence, patterns, and factors influencing self-medication within the Xavier University School of Medicine, Aruba, with a primary focus on medical students and administrative staff. The faculty included in the study were from preclinical and paraclinical departments such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, forensic medicine, microbiology, and community medicine. Methods A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students, administrative staff, and faculty from preclinical departments. Data were gathered through a pre-designed, standardized, and anonymous electronic questionnaire in English, which included both open-ended questions for qualitative insights and close-ended questions for structured quantitative analysis. Open-ended questions allowed participants to provide detailed, personalized responses, offering qualitative insights into their self-medication practices and related experiences. Closed-ended questions, on the other hand, provided structured answer choices, facilitating the collection of quantitative data for statistical analysis. This combination enabled a thorough exploration of demographic details, self-medication behaviors, and the factors influencing these practices. Results Allopathic medicines were the most frequently used, reported by 34 respondents (63%), primarily sourced from pharmacies by 43 respondents (79.6%). These medicines were commonly administered directly from bottles, spoons, or measuring devices, as reported by 37 respondents (68.5%). Saving time was the primary reason for self-medication, cited by 18 respondents (33.3%), followed by lack of insurance or prior familiarity with the medication, noted by nine respondents (16.7%). Adverse effects were reported by seven respondents (13%), with drowsiness and stomach pain being the most frequent issues. Risks such as delayed diagnosis and drug resistance were also mentioned. Despite these concerns, 40 respondents (74.1%) acknowledged that self-medication could be hazardous, yet 44 respondents (81.5%) continued the practice. Additionally, 13 respondents (24.1%) felt adequately educated to self-medicate, and 37 respondents (68.5%) supported incorporating self-medication education into formal medical curricula. Conclusion Self-medication was widespread among medical students, administrative staff, and preclinical and paraclinical faculty, driven by convenience and accessibility but accompanied by risks of adverse effects and delayed diagnosis. Integrating self-medication education into medical curricula and raising awareness can foster safer healthcare behaviors and improve outcomes.