Date of Completion

2022

Document Type

Research Project

Degree Name

Grade 12

Keywords

self-diagnosis, self-medication, COVID-19 pandemic, perceived health literacy, health allied students, non-health allied students

Abstract

Self-diagnosis and self-medication are the only forms of accessible and available healthcare to many, more so in the COVID-19 pandemic. Regardless, without professional supervision, these practices entail risks that may lead to adverse effects; thus, the present study assessed the prevalence of self-diagnosis and self-medication between health allied and non-health allied students in Dasmariñas City and determined whether the factors of perceived health literacy and the COVID-19 pandemic illustrated a significant relationship to this prevalence. A comparative study was conducted among health allied and non-health allied students studying in Dasmariñas City through the dissemination of a quantitative test survey of adapted and self-made questions throughout the dates April 29, 2022 to May 16, 2022. Multiple statistical and analytical procedures were then conceptualized and conducted on the gathered data. Among 208 (50.6%) health allied and 203 (49.4%) non-health allied undergraduate students, self-diagnosis is more or less prevalent among both populations, whereas self-medication is more or less prevalent among health allied students and prevalent among non-health allied students. Perceived health literacy presents moderate self-efficacy in both practices among both populations. The COVID-19 pandemic is more or less contributory in both practices among both populations.

The findings imply that being a health allied or non-health allied student is not a factor in self-diagnosis but is a factor in self-medication. Perceived health literacy is a factor in both practices among both populations. The COVID-19 pandemic is not a factor in self-diagnosis among health allied students but is a factor among non-health allied students; it is not a factor in self-medication among both populations. The present study therefore concludes that the significant relationship of the students’ perceived health literacy to their inclination to practice self-diagnosis and self-medication implores the need to reinforce health literacy through proper health education to mitigate future health risks.

First Advisor

Carmelette Cawaling-Davila

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