• Nahla Khamis Ibrahim, Banan Mohammad Alamoudi, Wejdan Omar Baamer, and Rajaa Mohammad Al-Raddadi.
• Prof. Nahla Khamis Ibrahim, MBBS, MPH, DHPE, PhD.Family and Community Medicine Department, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Epidemiology Dept., High Institute of Public Health,Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
• Pak J Med Sci. 2015 Jan 1; 31 (1): 14-8.

ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence and predictors of self-medication with analgesics among senior medical students and interns in King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 504 participants in 2013. A multistage stratified random sampling was used. A confidential, anonymous & self-administered questionnaire was used to collect personal & socio-demographic data. Data about self-medication and self-medication with analgesics during the preceding 6 months were also inquired. Both descriptive and analytical statistics were done by SPSS version 18 & Epi-Info.ResultsDuring the 6 months preceding the study, 75.2% and 55.4% of participants used self -medication & analgesic self-medication, respectively. The first predictor of utilization of analgesic self-medication was living with family (aOR; 1.96, 95% CI: 1.22-3.14), followed by age >21 years & non- professional jobs of fathers.ConclusionAlarming high rates of self medication and self-medication with analgesics were observed among medical students and interns. Self-medication needs improvement through educational, regulatory and managerial strategies.

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