PATTERNS, RISKS, AND THE KNOWLEDGE PARADOX OF SELF-MEDICATIONWITH PAINKILLERS AND SLEEP DRUGS AMONG UNIVERSITY HOSTELSTUDENTS IN PAKISTAN
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63735/Keywords:
Self-medication, , NSAIDs, sleep medications, knowledge paradox, hostel students, PakistanAbstract
Objectives: This study aim to assess the patterns, risks, and the knowledge paradox of self-
medication with painkillers and sleep drugs among university hostel students in Pakistan.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among hostel students of Gomal University,
Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan, from February to March 2026. Data were collected using a
structured, self-administered questionnaire on self-medication practices, non-steroidal anti-
inflammatory drug (NSAID) use on an empty stomach, knowledge of NSAID-related problems,
and future self-medication intentions. Associations between categorical variables were analyzed
using chi-square and Fisher-Freeman-Halton Exact tests in statistical packages for social
sciences (SPSS) version 27.
Results: The prevalence of self-medication was 65.3%, with
NSAIDs being the most commonly used drugs (89.4%). A significant gender disparity was
observed, with males using nearly four times more sleep medications than females (12.5% vs.
3.3%, p = 0.035). Also, a knowledge paradox revealed showing that medical students had
significantly higher awareness of NSAID risks than non-medical students (60.9% vs. 30.8%, p =
0.008), yet this knowledge was associated with stronger intentions to self-medicate in the future
(47.6% vs. 13.6%, p < 0.001, φ = 0.32). Additionally, 28.8% of NSAID users were taking these
medications on an empty stomach.
Conclusion: Self-medication is common among hostel
students, with males using sleep medications more than females. The knowledge paradox
suggests that simply teaching students about drug risks is not enough to change behavior. We
need to address overconfidence bias and improve healthcare access. We also need to target the
unique vulnerabilities of students living on their own.
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Data Availability Statement
All the datasets supporting this study is available from corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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