Study of self-medication for musculoskeletal pain among nursing and medicine students at Pontifícia Universidade Católica - São Paulo.

OBJECTIVE To study the self-medication for pain among students of medicine and nursing of the PUCSP compared with students from other knowledge areas. MATERIAL AND METHODS Data were obtained in two groups: A - students from the health knowledge area, and B - students of law and engineering. It was used a questionnaire developed by the authors. Statistical analysis used the Chi-square test and the Fischer. RESULTS In relation to gender, there is a predominance of women in the health group and a male majority in other one. In the health group there was a greater number of medical students, and in the control group of engineering. It is observed a high degree of selftreatment in both groups. It appears that participants in the health group have used more anti-inflammatory drugs and opioid than the others subjects studied. CONCLUSION The frequency of medication for pain is higher in the group of health students, and self-medication is equally practiced among students of health and other areas.