PTI
New Delhi: A large number of trainee doctors are involved in self-medication although this is exactly what they tell patients not to do once they are in a white coat, a new AIIMS study has said.
Self-medication is high among undergraduate medical and paramedical students in India and increases with medical knowledge, according to a study carried out by the pharmacology department of AIIMS.
“92% male and 88% female students admitted taking medicine without prescription,” Dr Y K Gupta, head of the department, Pharmacology, AIIMS, said.
A total of 238 students -166 females and 71 male - from 24 medical colleges in the country participated in the survey. All of them belonged to the 18-25 year age-group.
Of the total number of students who participated in the survey, 63% were medical while 37% paramedical students.
The query was set on 16 categories of drugs on self medication. They include antibacterial, anti inflammatory, analgesic, antacid, anti-allergic, antitussive, antidiarrhoeal, antiulcer, antiemitic, antipyretic, ear drops, eye drops, laxative, hypnotics, nutritional supplements, ayurvedic, homoeopathy and unani.
The drugs most popular among students were analgesics-- used to treat headache, fatigue and body-ache-- antipyretics-- used to decrease body temperature-- antibacterials and antacids.
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