Abstract

KNOWLEDGE ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE REGARDING PARACETAMOL USE AMONG MEDICAL AND NON-MEDICAL STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KHARTOUM, SUDAN

Sayed Halaly*, Samar H. Mubarak, Abraa A. Sharif, Siham Balla, Amani Abdrhaman, Haitham Awadalla, Zainab S. Dahab, Kamil Mirgani and Nuha M. E. Agabna

Abstract

Background: Paractamol is the most commonly used analgesic worldwide. It is one of the over the counter (OTC) drugs and is an effective analgesic in treating mild to moderate pain and fever. Aim: The aim of the study is to assess Knowledge, attitude and practice towards paracetamol use among medical and non-medical students in the University of Khartoum (U of K). Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among medical and non-medical students of the University of Khartoum during October- November 2016. Three hundred and forty four students were randomly selected and interviewed. Half of them (172) were from the Faculty of Medicine and the other half (172) were from the Faculty of Education. A structured questionnaire to assess the Knowledge, attitude and practice of the students regarding paracetamol use was used. Statistical analysis: Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. Chi square test was used to assess the association between the type of education (medical or non-medical) and each of the level of knowledge, attitude and practice of the respondents. Results: The total sample was 344 students; it was predominantly females (73% females and 27% males). The mean age was 21 years (SD±1.9). Only a quarter (27%) of the respondents had good total knowledge regarding Paractamol use (41% of medical and 13% of non-medical students), with p value< 0.05. More than three quarters (79%) of the students agree that paracetamol overdose can cause death, p

Keywords: Paracetamol use, knowledge, attitude, practice, over the counter drugs (OTC), prescription, self-prescription, medical students, non-medical students, University of Khartoum.