Self-medication of antibiotics: investigating practice among university students at the Malaysian National Defence University.

Background: Self-medication of drugs to alleviate symptoms is a common global behavior, helping relieve burdens on health services, but many drugs eg, antibiotics are prescription-only. Self-medication of antibiotics (SMA) is an irrational use of drugs, contributing to microbial resistance increasing health care costs and higher mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to assess SMA among university students. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among medical and non-medical students of the National Defence University of Malaysia. A validated instrument was used to gather data. Ethics approval was obtained. Random and universal sampling was adopted, and SPSS 21 was used for data analysis. Results: A total of 649 students participated in the study: 48.5% male and 51.5% female, 39.3% reported self-medicating with antibiotics. Penicillin, doxycycline, clarithromycin were the antibiotics most used with the majority reporting no adverse drug reactions. Cost savings and convenience were the principal reasons for SMA which were mainly obtained from local retail pharmacies. Despite medical students (particularly the more senior) having better knowledge of antibiotic use than non-medical students, 89% of all research participants responded that practicing SMA was a good/acceptable practice. Conclusion: SMA is common amongst Malaysian students and, despite understanding why SMA is unwise, even medical students self-medicate.

Empathy among undergraduate medical students: A cross-sectional study in one Malaysian public medical school.

Background: Empathy is one of the cardinal components for physician-patient relationships, optimal outcomes in patient care, improved patient satisfaction, greater adherence to therapy, and lower malpractice liability. It is also considered an essential quality for health-care professionals to practice medicine. The aim of the present study was to assess the empathy level of medical students of Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) National Defense University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2017 which recruited medical students of UPNM. The Empathy Quotient, a self-reported questionnaire, was utilized for data collection. The total empathy score of the questionnaire is 80. Results: Majority of the respondents were male (60.9%), year-V students (26.6%), Malay (70.5%), and cadet officer (69.6%). The overall mean score achieved by the respondents was 36.76 ± 9.18, and 74.4% of the respondents scored more than 30. The empathy scores of the students were significantly affected by the gender (t = 2.371; df = 205; P < 0.05), year of study (F = 2.553; df = 4/202; P < 0.05), and examination grades (F = 3.488; df = 2/204; P < 0.05). The findings showed that female students are more empathetic than their male counterparts. Further, the post hoc Tukey test analysis revealed that Year-V students are more empathetic than their junior counterparts and students who got highest grade are more empathetic. Conclusions: To improve the empathy level of the UPNM medical students, appropriate educational strategies and interventions should be designed and implemented in the curriculum to inculcate, maintain, and enhance empathy.

RésuméArrière-plan: L'empathie est l'un des éléments essentiels dans les relations médecin-patient, des résultats optimaux en matière de soins aux patients, d'une meilleure satisfaction des patients, d'une plus grande observance du traitement et d'une réduction de la responsabilité en cas de faute professionnelle. La pratique de la médecine est également considérée comme une qualité essentielle pour les professionnels de la santé. Le but de l'étude actuelle était d'évaluer le niveau d'empathie des étudiants en médecine de l' Université Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) Université de défense nationale de Malaisie, Kuala Lumpur, Malaisie. Méthodes: Il s'agissait d'une étude transversale menée en 2017 qui recrutait des étudiants en médecine de l'UPNM. Le quotient d'empathie, un questionnaire auto-déclaré, a été utilisé pour la collecte de données. Le score total d'empathie du questionnaire est de 80. Résultats: La majorité des répondants étaient des hommes (60,9%) et des étudiants de la cinquième année (26,6%), officier malais (70,5%) et officier cadet (69,6%). Le score moyen global obtenu par les répondants était de 36,76 ± 9,18 et 74,4% des répondants ont obtenu plus de 30 points. Les scores d'empathie des élèves étaient significativement affectés par le sexe (t = 2,371; df = 205; p < 0.05, année d'étude (F = 2,553; df = 4/202; P <0,05) et notes d'examen (F = 3,4488; df = 2/204; P <0,05). Les résultats ont montré que les étudiantes sont plus empathiques que leurs homologues masculins. En outre, l'analyse post-hoc de Tukey a révélé que les élèves de la cinquième année sont plus empathiques que leurs camarades juniors et que les élèves ayant obtenu la meilleure note sont plus empathiques. Conclusions: Pour améliorer le niveau d'empathie des étudiants en médecine de l'UPNM, des stratégies et des interventions éducatives appropriées devraient être conçues et mises en œuvre dans le programme pour inculquer, maintenir et renforcer l'empathie. Mots-clés: Empathie, notes d'examen, Malaisie, étudiants en médecine, année d'études.