Characteristics of self-medication for XXXX relief among first-year health care students in Zagreb, Croatia.

@entity25515 @entity5018 @entity117 @entity158 @entity10
BACKGROUND: Taking over the responsibility for one's own health and active participation in eliminating the existing health problems is ever more widespread in the world. Self-medication in the form of using any kind of therapy without previous consultation with medical professionals has been ever more common among student populations in many countries. The aim of this study was to determine the attitudes about self-medication for @entity158 relief and features of self-medication in first-year students of the University of Applied Health Studies in Zagreb. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study was conducted using an anonymous questionnaire, which was completed by 389 respondents. RESULTS: @entity25515 in the past year was reported by 74.6% of respondents, significantly more by female students (80.8%); 62.6% of female students used painkillers once a month versus 45.7% of male students taking analgesics once a year. @entity5018 was preferred by female students and @entity117 by male students. @entity10 was the most common indication for @entity25515 (76.6%), followed by menstrual discomforts in female students (66.2%) and toothache (28.6%). Significant sex differences were recorded in the choice of drugs, indications for self-medication, and frequency of drug use. There were no differences between study courses. CONCLUSIONS: Appropriate student education and improved information transfer between professionals and students are the key elements to ensure judicious, quality and knowledge based use of drugs among students.
