Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding self-medication among Generation Z university students

Abstract

Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of self-medication and factors associated with this behavior among students in the health field. Method: A cross-sectional study conducted at a public university in Minas Gerais with 237 students. Data collection was carried out using a structured form to obtain sociodemographic variables and information on knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding self-medication. Descriptive analysis and regression modeling were performed. Results: The majority (84.8%) reported practicing self-medication and demonstrated a high level of favorability for the behavior; 57.7% demonstrated adequate knowledge. Students in the early grades were more likely to have inadequate knowledge. Favorable attitudes were significantly associated with the 18–20 age group and low income. The highest rates of self-medication were statistically linked to young people and those who self-identified as Black. Conclusion: The high incidence of self-medication and the false perception of technical autonomy highlight the medicalization of life as a response to academic pressures. The results demonstrated vulnerabilities associated with structural inequalities and reinforce the need for institutional interventions focused on medication safety.