PATTERN OF MEDICATION USE IN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, LAGOS STUDENTS.
Objectives: to determine use of medications, type of medications, factors associated with use of medication among undergraduate medical students of the College of Medicine, Lagos.
Method: study was cross sectional and descriptive in nature. It was conducted by means of a self administered questionnaire distributed among 250 students who were selected by stratified and systemic sampling from a student population of 770.
Result: 235 students returned questionnaires (response rate: 94%). Of these 211(89.2%) agree they use medication and 180 (85.3%) of them had used a form of medication in the last 3 months.
Analgesics were the most frequently reported medication (33.6%) followed by anti malaria (21.2%) and antibiotics
Only 61(33.9%) of these medication were prescribed by a physician. 62% of them would use the complete dosage of medication as prescribed most frequent reason given for non –compliance was that the symptoms subsided .54% always read instructions before use, also 93(39.6%) of students actually prescribes for other people when consulted.
There is no significant difference between gender or year of study and use of medications.
Conclusion: use of medication is common among the group examined. However, attitude towards compliance with drug regimen is not satisfactory as future physicians.