Nursing students' perceived consequences of self-medication: a qualitative study.

Khatony, Alireza; Soroush, Ali; Andayeshgar, Bahare; Abdi, Alireza

Background Self-medication associates with many problems and complications, and is considered as a global health issue. Regarding a lack of information about perception of nursing students, as a part of healthcare workers, in this issue, the current study was aimed to explore the perceived consequences of self-medication from the perspective of nursing students. Methods This qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured individual face-to-face interviews. Purposeful sampling method was used for selection of participants. Twelve nursing students in the age range of 21-36 years were enrolled. Five participants were male and seven were female, seven master's degree and five were undergraduate of bachelor degree. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed as content analyses. Results Two categories and seven sub-categories were emerged from the data analysis. The main categories included; positive consequences and negative consequences, and subcategories included; time saving, cost savings, disease treatment, harming the health system, drug resistance, physical complications and death. Conclusion The participants believed that self-medication has some positive and negative consequences in viewpoints of nursing students. Regarding, Self-medication that potentially has dangerous consequences, it is suggested the students will be educated and warned about the adverse effects of self-medication, and the nursing teachers should try to rectify students' misconceptions about self-medication.