Meysam Behzadifar1, Masoud Behzadifar2, Aidin Aryankhesal3, Hamid Ravaghi3, Hamid Reza Baradaran4, Haniye Sadat Sajadi5, Mojtaba Khaksarian6, Nicola Luigi Bragazzi7. 1. Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Islamic Republic of Iran. 2. Health Management and Economics Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. 3. Department of Health Services Management, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. 4. Endocrine Research Center, Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. 5. National Institute for Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. 6. Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Islamic Republic of Iran. 7. School of Public Health, Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Self-medication can lead to serious consequences but its overall prevalence in students is not known. AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of self-medication in students through a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on the prevalence of self-medication in students across the world. METHODS: PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, ISI/Web of Science and Google Scholar were searched up to October 2017. Studies reporting the prevalence of self-treatment in university students were selected. Data recorded included year of publication, country where the study was conducted, sample size, prevalence of self-medication, sex and mean age of students, and faculty of students (medical or non-medical). A random-effect model was used to determine effect size with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Heterogeneity across studies was assessed with the I2 test. A sensitivity analysis assessed stability of the findings. RESULTS: A total of 89 studies were included in the analysis, which comprised 60 938 students. The overall prevalence of self-medication in university students was 70.1% (95% CI: 64.3-75.4%). Female students self-medicated more often than male students: odds ratio = 1.45 (95% CI%: 1.17-1.79). The prevalence of self-medication in medical students (97.2%) was higher than in non-medical students (44.7%). The I2 test indicated high, statistically significant heterogeneity. The sensitivity analysis showed that the results were stable. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of self-medication among students worldwide is high. Programmes on the risks of self-medication and increasing control and monitoring of the sale of drugs are recommended. Facilitating students' access to doctors and health centres could reduce self-medication in students.
BACKGROUND: Self-medication can lead to serious consequences but its overall prevalence in students is not known. AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of self-medication in students through a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on the prevalence of self-medication in students across the world. METHODS: PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, ISI/Web of Science and Google Scholar were searched up to October 2017. Studies reporting the prevalence of self-treatment in university students were selected. Data recorded included year of publication, country where the study was conducted, sample size, prevalence of self-medication, sex and mean age of students, and faculty of students (medical or non-medical). A random-effect model was used to determine effect size with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Heterogeneity across studies was assessed with the I2 test. A sensitivity analysis assessed stability of the findings. RESULTS: A total of 89 studies were included in the analysis, which comprised 60 938 students. The overall prevalence of self-medication in university students was 70.1% (95% CI: 64.3-75.4%). Female students self-medicated more often than male students: odds ratio = 1.45 (95% CI%: 1.17-1.79). The prevalence of self-medication in medical students (97.2%) was higher than in non-medical students (44.7%). The I2 test indicated high, statistically significant heterogeneity. The sensitivity analysis showed that the results were stable. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of self-medication among students worldwide is high. Programmes on the risks of self-medication and increasing control and monitoring of the sale of drugs are recommended. Facilitating students' access to doctors and health centres could reduce self-medication in students.