Self-medication practice, motivation, and risks among Saudi medical students

Background: Self-medication is a widespread practice among medical students globally, with recent studies reporting alarmingly high rates in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of self-medication among Saudi medical students and to identify factors influencing this behavior. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A self-administered, structured questionnaire was sent through Google Forms to medical students in 4 th to 6 th years and interns, and practices regarding self-medication were recorded. Results: Out of a total of 406 medical students, 64.3% were female and 35.7% were male. The mean age of all the participants was 22.7 + 1.4 years. Self-medication during their last year was reported by 69.7% of the students. Classroom teaching (50.9%), followed by previous prescriptions (41.0%), and trusted medical websites (39.2%) were the common information sources, and pharmacies were the predominant source of medication (94.0%). The leading reason for self-medication was the belief that there was no need to visit a doctor for minor illnesses (75.3%). Headache (83.7%), common cold (79.9%), and fever (59.0%) were the common indications, and analgesics were the most commonly used medication (90.1%). Only 10.6% of students reported consistently visiting a qualified medical practitioner for their illnesses, and 62.3% considered it acceptable to provide medical advice to others. Being a senior student was significantly associated with self-medication ( P = 0.022). Conclusion: Self-medication is highly prevalent among Saudi medical students, particularly senior students. Targeted interventions that address the underlying determinants and promote rational medication use are essential to reduce the prevalence of self-medication.