Comparative Assessment of Self-Medication Practices Among Medical and Non-Medical Students at Superior University

Abstract

Background: Self-medication is a widespread practice among university students, often driven by perceived medical knowledge, convenience, and cost-saving. While medical students are assumed to be more informed, their actual behaviours and awareness levels compared to non-medical peers remain underexplored, especially in developing countries like Pakistan. This knowledge gap hinders targeted educational and regulatory interventions. Objective: This study aimed to compare the prevalence and risk awareness of self-medication practices among medical and non-medical undergraduate students at Superior University, assessing the influence of academic background on medication behaviours and associated implications for healthcare safety. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students (n = 113) from medical (n = 74) and non-medical (n = 39) disciplines at Superior University, Lahore. Participants were recruited via convenience sampling, with inclusion criteria including enrolment at the undergraduate level and voluntary participation. Data were collected using a structured, validated questionnaire assessing self-medication frequency, drug types, sources of information, and risk awareness. Ethical approval was obtained from the Department of Emerging Allied Health Technologies, and the study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki. Data were analysed using SPSS v27, employing descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests for group comparisons. Results: Self-medication was more prevalent among medical students (59.5%) than non-medical students (46.2%). While 63.5% of medical students reported being aware of associated risks, the difference in awareness levels between groups was not statistically significant (χ² = 1.856, p = 0.395). These findings suggest that despite greater academic exposure; medical students may not exhibit proportionally safer behaviours. Conclusion: Self-medication is common among both student groups, with medical students demonstrating higher prevalence but not significantly greater risk awareness. These findings underline the need for integrated educational modules and policy-level interventions to promote responsible medication use and mitigate long-term public health risks.