Self-Medication Trends Among Health Care Professionals: Risks, Benefits, and Implications for Practice at Allama Iqbal Teaching Hospital, Dera Ghazi Khan

Abstract

Background: Self-medication among healthcare professionals poses a paradox in clinical practice, wherein individuals trained to promote safe medication use often bypass professional consultation for their own health needs. The behavior, while perceived as convenient and cost-effective, carries risks including drug misuse, adverse interactions, and dependency, yet remains underexplored among practitioners in Southern Punjab, Pakistan. Objective: To assess the prevalence, determinants, and perceived risks and benefits of self-medication among healthcare professionals at Allama Iqbal Teaching Hospital, Dera Ghazi Khan. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 120 doctors, pharmacists, and nurses using a stratified random sampling method. Data were collected through a structured, self-administered questionnaire assessing demographics, self-medication behaviors, influencing factors, and risk perception. Statistical analysis was performed in SPSS v27 using descriptive and chi-square tests with significance set at p<0.05. Results: The prevalence of self-medication was 69.2% (95% CI 60.4-76.7). Commonly self-treated conditions included acidity (78.3%), musculoskeletal pain (74.2%), and dental pain (67.5%). Key motivators were accessibility of over-the-counter drugs (66.7%), cost-effectiveness (60.0%), and online information (70.8%). Males were significantly more likely to self-medicate than females (76.0% vs 57.8%; p=0.028; OR 2.31, 95% CI 1.05-5.12). Despite high risk awareness (75.0%), the practice persisted. Conclusion: Self-medication among healthcare professionals is highly prevalent and driven by occupational convenience and systemic constraints. Institutional interventions, pharmacist-led education, and workplace stress management are recommended to mitigate unsafe practices and reinforce rational medication behavior.