Causes that induce self-medication in first and fifth year students of the USFX School of Medicine

Abstract

Introduction: We live in a society that encourages self-medication and one reason is the availability of drugs that do not require a prescription and are easily accessible, the abuse of these have important implications for the health of the general population; being the most commonly used drugs: analgesics, antibiotics, antihistamines and others. Objective: Determine the causes that induce self-medication in freshmen and fifth year of the Faculty of Medicine of the Universidad Mayor, Real y Pontificia de San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca - Bolivia, 2012. Methodology: Quantitative and descriptive cross-sectional approach. A sample of 284 students which they apply structural survey was obtained. Results.A high percentage of students who are self-medicating themselves without.medical.supervision. Conclusions: We can say that self-medication on freshmen and fifth year of medical school at the University Of San Francisco Xavier De Chuquisaca is induced by influence of social circle (friends and parents), advertising of certain medications, access to internet and lack of time.