Appropriate self-medication using over-the-counter (OTC) medicines can offer advantages to both individuals and healthcare systems. However, despite being generally regarded as safe, inappropriate use of OTC medicines may result in significant health risks and adverse outcomes. This study examined self-medication practices involving OTC medicines among medical and non-medical university students across various universities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A cross-sectional study was conducted over a six-month period from January to June 2021. The study employed a three-stage cluster sampling technique, with a confidence level of 95% and a precision of 0.03. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire developed based on Andersen’s Behavioral Model, which evaluated predisposing, enabling, and need-related factors associated with OTC medicine use. A total of 2, 355 students completed the questionnaire. The participants had a mean age of 20.94 years, and females constituted 76.3% of the sample. More than half of the respondents (57.5%) reported using OTC medicines within the 90 days preceding the survey. Additionally, 67.8% demonstrated a high level of self-care behavior. Significant associations were identified between advice-seeking behavior and several factors, including perceived health status (p<0.0001), educational background (p=0.003), use of leftover medications (p=0.002), reliance on informal information sources (p=0.0001), and reading medication information leaflets (p<0.0001). The findings indicate that a considerable proportion of university students did not seek advice from pharmacists when using OTC medicines. Consultation with pharmacists was less common among medical students compared to non-medical students and among individuals who did not read medication information leaflets. These results highlight the critical role pharmacists can play in enhancing the safe and appropriate use of OTC medicines through proactive patient engagement.
