AWARENESS AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS SELF-MEDICATION FOR DENTAL PROBLEMS AMONG BS NURSING STUDENTS OF DISTRICT SWABI

Abstract

Background: Self-medication is a widespread public health concern, particularly among healthcare students with limited pharmacological knowledge. Dental problems such as toothache, gum pain, oral ulcers, and halitosis frequently prompt self-medication. BS Nursing students are especially vulnerable due to their clinical exposure and easy access to medications. Objective: To assess the awareness and attitudes of BS Nursing students toward self-medication for dental problems in District Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at nursing institutes in District Swabi from December 2025 to March 2026. A total of 268 BS Nursing students were selected through nonprobability convenience sampling. Data were collected using a structured, validated questionnaire and analyzed in SPSS using descriptive statistics and Pearson chi-square tests. Results: Among 268 participants, 80.6% were male and 19.4% were female; 66.8% were third-year students. About 24.6% reported using over-the-counter (OTC) drugs for dental problems in the previous six months, most using them 2–3 times. Toothache (29.1%) was the most common reason for self-medication. Ibuprofen (21.3%) and Amoxicillin (28.4%) were the most frequently used analgesics and antibiotics, respectively. Most participants considered self-medication risky (78.7%), acknowledged its harmful effects (76.9%), and believed frequent use may lead to misuse or dependency (73.5%). No significant association was found between academic year and attitudes toward self-medication (p > 0.05). Conclusion: BS Nursing students demonstrated good awareness of the risks of dental self-medication; however, a notable gap existed between awareness and practice. Analgesics and antibiotics were the most commonly self-administered drugs. The findings highlight the need to incorporate dental pharmacology education, awareness programs, and stricter regulation of prescription medications to encourage responsible medication practices among future nursing professionals.

Keywords: Self-medication, dental problems, BS Nursing students, awareness, attitudes, antibiotics, analgesics, Swabi District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa