Knowledge and Attitudes toward Over-the-Counter Medications among Undergraduate Students at the University of Mississippi

Author

• Anna S. Dawson, University of MississippiFollow

Date of Award

Spring 5-8-2027

Document Type

Undergraduate Thesis

Department

School of Pharmacy

First Advisor

Erin Holmes

Second Advisor

Marie Barnard

Third Advisor

Kyp Ross

Relational Format

Dissertation/Thesis

Abstract

This study examines and compares knowledge and attitudes towards over-the-counter (OTC) medications among undergraduate college students at the University of Mississippi. OTCs are purchased and administered without a prescription, making them an efficient, safe, and affordable method of healthcare. It is important to determine the attitudes college students have towards these drugs and if they are able to safely and correctly use them. Information gathered from this study can be used to guide future education on medication literacy and to gain insight into how college students use OTCs to medicate themselves. A Qualtrics survey was sent out to a random sample of undergraduate students at the University of Mississippi. The survey collected general demographic information and then proceeded with three sections of related questions. First, participants were asked about their general attitudes and perspectives on OTC medications. Then, a short drug quiz was given to establish the level of medication literacy among participants. The survey ended with a short section regarding sources of information from which participants learned about OTCs. Respondents reported to be generally confident in their OTC medication literacy and attitudes toward OTCs. In the drug quiz section, respondents had higher percentages of correct answers when answering general questions compared to more nuanced questions. Students largely depend on family and friends for information about OTCs, but based on results, there is great opportunity for education through pharmacists and the internet. YouTube followed by TikTok were the most preferred social media sources for medication knowledge. Health majors reported to be significantly more likely to seek a pharmacist with questions about OTCs and more likely to have a higher overall understanding of OTCs. However, there were no significant differences between health and non-health majors in OTC knowledge. Students did well on Tylenol questions, but medication literacy on similar highly-used drugs should still be emphasized. There still remains a need for more education resources from pharmacists in stores that sell OTCs. The internet is a great resource to spread awareness and information on medication facts and literacy. YouTube and TikTok may be promising platforms for pharmacists to educate college students.

Recommended Citation

Dawson, Anna S., "Knowledge and Attitudes toward Over-the-Counter Medications among Undergraduate Students at the University of Mississippi" (2027). Honors Theses. 3555.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/3555

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.