RELATION BETWEEN SELF-PERCEIVED HEALTH STATUS AND SELF-MEDICATION AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS

Abstract

Objectives: Find out if there is relationship between self-perception of health and illness and the practice of self-medication among college students. Methods: We applied a questionnaire about the concepts and practices of health and illness among students of the Interdisciplinary Health Bachelor Degree (at UFBA). We analyzed the responses to the perception of health and the reference to the adoption of self-medication. Results: Among the 503 students, 82% self-reported as healthy and 18% used self-medication when they were sick. Only 9.5% of students reported feeling sick, while 88% said they did not feel sick. Among students who perceived themselves as sick, there was a significantly greater frequency of references to self-medication (30% versus 16%) (p = 0.04). Conclusions: Our study suggests a correlation between the perception of young people as sick and self-medication. The low percentage of self-medication found in this sample compared to studies with individuals in more advanced process of professional training, can serve as a warning to health courses, pointing to their own progress within the course as an element that influences the practice of self-medication.