The Student, The Symptom, and The Saving: Unpacking Self-Medication in Abbottabad Pakistan Healthcare Education

Abstract

Background: Self-medication is a widespread global practice that poses substantial risks, including inappropriate drug use, adverse reactions, and antimicrobial resistance. Healthcare students are particularly vulnerable due to partial medical knowledge and easy access to medications. Despite the high prevalence of self-medication in Pakistan, limited evidence exists on its determinants among students nearing professional entry. Objective: To examine the prevalence of self-medication and assess its socioeconomic determinants among final semester nursing and paramedics students in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between March and June 2023 among 309 final semester students. Participants completed a validated questionnaire assessing demographics, socioeconomic background, and self-medication practices. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and associations between socioeconomic variables and self-medication were examined using chi-square tests and logistic regression. Ethical approval was obtained, and written informed consent was secured. Results: Of 309 students, 240 (77.6%) reported self-medication. The most common reasons were use of old prescriptions (75.0%) and saving time (62.5%). Students from households earning less than 50,000 PKR were nearly five times more likely to self-medicate compared to higher-income peers (OR = 4.67; 95% CI: 2.15–10.13, p < 0.001). Fathers’ private-sector employment was also associated with increased prevalence (OR = 3.87; 95% CI: 1.89–7.93, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Self-medication is pervasive among healthcare students in Abbottabad and is strongly shaped by socioeconomic factors. Targeted curricular interventions and improved access to affordable health services are needed to reduce unsafe self-medication behaviors.