Assessment of awareness and knowledge regarding the risks of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications among Libyan university students

Several types of steroids are a class of medications used worldwide to treat pain. Despite significant differences in their use across various age groups, particularly among young people, including university students, steroids offer a significant health benefit when used without a prescription and with guidance from a pharmacist. 425 new Libyan students from various colleges in Gharyan University (Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, Arts, etc.). The data were collected using a structured self-designed questionnaire consisting of 32 items. Descriptive (frequencies and percentages) and inferential statistics (Cronbach's alpha coefficient) were applied to assess internal consistency, and the Chi-squared test and ANOVA. The analysis revealed that 90.4% of students do not use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for pain, 94.1% do not use them for headaches, and 94.6% do not use them without a prescription. 6.1% reported experiencing stomach pain after use, and 1.6% indicated that they needed a larger dose to achieve the same effect. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.81, indicating good internal consistency. This study found significant differences in eight question items (29.6%) between genders and in three items between age groups. Thus, students at Gharyan University have a high level of awareness regarding the safe use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and avoiding their use without a prescription.