Abstract

AIM: This study has been carried out descriptively to determine the status of medication use among students of Erzincan University which is located in central Erzincan, Turkey.
METHODS: The universe of the study comprised 4506 students and the sample involved 885 (19.6% of the universe) students who attended faculties, associate programs, and vocational schools of Erzincan University. Data were collected between April-May 2008 through a questionnaire form that included students’ identifying characteristics and their status of medication use. For statistical analyses, percentage and chi-square test were used.
RESULTS: It was found that 39.3% of participants were 2nd grade students, 59.8% were between 20-22 years, and 34.7% were attending the Faculty of Education. It was established that 64.6% of students used medication for headache and/or cold-influenza, 83.6% read the respective package insert before using a drug, 47.9% discontinued medicaten after cessation of complaints, 50.5% used a medication within the last couple of months and that 23.2% of them took these medications without prescription. It was also found that 70.3% of participants had used a medication without prescription whenever they had a headache; 61.5% of non-prescription medication used were analgesics; and 64.1% used a non-prescription drug due to prior use of the same drug. A significant difference was established between the gender of the students and their medication use within the last couple of months. It was also found that there is a statistically significant difference between students’ gender and the faculty they attend and rates of package insert reading.
CONCLUSION: As a conclusion, it was determined that more than half of the students used a medication within the last one month and 23.2% of these medications were bought without prescription.

Key words: University Student, Medication, Medication Use

Article Language: Turkish English