Knowledge of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and their Adverse Effects among Medical and Non-Medical Students

Background: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the common analgesics, antipyretics, and anti-inflammatory drugs. Though, their frequent consumption cause peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and other unfavorable side effects. This study aimed to compare the knowledge and attitude of Karachi medical and non-medical students about NSAIDs and their adverse effects. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2021-2022, including 344 students from four universities in Karachi, with an equal ratio of medical (n=172) and non-medical (n=172). The study participants were requested to fill out the questionnaire based on the usage of NSAIDs, over-the-counter availability, side effects, etc. The knowledge of adverse drug reactions, reasons for self-medication, and NSAID prescriptions were compared using the Chi-square/Fisher Test. Results: The results showed that about 88.4% of students had some previous knowledge of NSAIDs, of which 98.2% were from the medical sector and 78.4% were from the non-medical sector. 68.6% of students were familiar with the NSAIDs’ adverse effects, 90.1% were medical students, and 47.1% were non-medics. Only 47.7% of the total population was aware of PUD, with 80.2% attending medical universities. While most of the self-medicating students were non-medical 84.7%. Conclusion:  Medical students of Karachi possessed more knowledge about NSAID use and its adverse effects. The most known prevalent adverse was PUD, which indicates GI bleeding. It is recommended that there is a dire need for awareness concerning the usage, safety and adverse effects of NSAIDs. Keywords: NSAIDs; Peptic Ulcer Disease; Medical Students; Non-medical Students.