SILVA, Lucas Salles Freitas e et al. Self-medication made by undergraduate degree courses of a private university's health area in the Minas Gerais' southern. Odontol. Clín.-Cient. (Online) []. 2011, 10, 1, pp. 57-63. ISSN 1677-3888.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the practice of self medication made by undergraduate degree health area's courses and the association between sex and this practice. METHODS: Epidemiological study, descriptive, transversal and quantitative study conducted with 697 academics that course Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Nursing, in a private university. During data collection, a questionnaire was used, containing variables related to self-medication. Data were entered into GraphPad Prism 5, with an application of ANOVA and multiple comparisons. RESULTS: There was a high rate of students who self-medicate (93.11%), and in the medical school this practice is more often (94.55%). The most widely used drugs were analgesics, antipyretics and medicines for colds and flu, and the main symptoms / illnesses that they believed they had been cold / flu and headaches. In all courses evaluated, women predominated in self, and that was with a significant difference (p <0.05). Most academics who resorts to self-medicate with pharmacist counseling / clerk, advice from others, the knowledge gained in college and the label instructions. CONCLUSION: Self-medication is a phenomenon harmful to health. It is up to professionals and academics in this area are made aware about this practice.

: Self-medication without Prescription Drugs; Universities; Students; Health.