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

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.