KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE TOWARDS RESPONSIBLE SELF-MEDICATION AMONG PHARMACY STUDENTS

Background: Responsible self-medication is an essential component of self-care and plays a significant role in reducing healthcare burden. However, inappropriate self-medication may lead to adverse drug reactions (ADRs), antibiotic resistance, and delayed diagnosis of serious illnesses. Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) toward responsible self-medication among pharmacy students. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted among 247 pharmacy students at Excel College of Pharmacy, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, from October 2025 to February 2026. A pre-validated, self-administered questionnaire was distributed through Google Forms. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage). Results: The majority of participants were aged 18–22 years (95.9%) and male (65.2%). Awareness regarding the term self-medication was high (86.2%). About 58.3% reported practicing self-medication in the last six months. Headache (56.8%) and fever (34.2%) were the most common indications. Although 72.3% followed recommended dosage, 36.8% preferred prescription-only medicines. Around 35.4% experienced adverse effects. Conclusion: Pharmacy students demonstrate good knowledge and generally positive attitudes toward responsible self-medication. However, gaps in practice such as use of prescription medicines without consultation and dosage deviation remain. Strengthening academic training on rational drug use is recommended.