Self-medication awareness, practices, and influencing factors among Malaysian medical students studying in India: A cross-sectional study Jyoti M. Benni, A.B. Fareeda Banu, Varsha M. Shindhe, Basavaraj R. Tubaki Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 2026 Self-medication is increasingly prevalent among medical students due to academic exposure and easy access to medications. While it offers convenience for minor ailments, inappropriate use poses significant health risks. Hence, a cross-sectional study was planned to assess the prevalence, awareness, practices, and determinants of self-medication among Malaysian medical students studying in India. A total of 310 students from 1st to 5th year were included, and data were collected using a pre-validated, semi-structured questionnaire covering demographics, self-medication practices, influencing factors, and awareness of adverse drug reactions and pharmacovigilance. Data were analysed using the independent t-test and one-way ANOVA, followed by Bonferroni’s post hoc test and chi-square test for categorical variables. The study showed, self-medication prevalence was 86.5%, with increasing percentages observed from first (85.7%) to fifth year (95%) students during the past 6 months. Commonly used drugs included antipyretics (75%), analgesics (71%), and antihistamines (45%), used for mild illness (89.7%) and prior experience (47.4%). Despite high awareness of risks (94%) and having received formal education (84.2%), self-medication remains widely practiced. Determinants such as senior academic year, family influence, and digital health app use contribute significantly. Educational interventions and future longitudinal studies are essential to promote rational drug use and reduce inappropriate self-medication practices.
Sleep Hygiene Practices and Sleep Quality Among Undergraduate Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study Suhasini R Kanyadi, Varsha M Shindhe, Ravikiran P Kamate, Shivalingappa B Javali National Journal of Community Medicine, 2025 Introduction: The role of sleep in supporting psychological, mental, and physical health is well documented. Sleep hygiene practices are effective modifiable behaviours that can be beneficial to improve sleep quality among medical students who are in short supply of sleep due to a demanding course. Aim and Objective: To estimate the magnitude and beliefs about of poor sleep hygiene among medical students. To identify specific changes to needed to Sleep Hygiene Index (SHI). Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 293 undergraduate medical students using a pre-designed, self-administered questionnaire was conducted. Validated instruments the SHI and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were used. Results: Poor sleep hygiene practices (47.4%) and poor sleep quality (69.3%) were prevalent among substantial number of medical students. Bedtime technology use, sleep latency (AOR=2.276), sleep disturbance (AOR=2.459), use of sleeping medication (AOR=6.559) and daytime dysfunction (AOR=2.128) had a significant association with poor sleep hygiene practices (p<0.05). The area under the ROC curve for SHI as a tool for predicting good sleep quality was 0.663. Conclusions: Regularization of sleep schedules by conducting time-management workshops among students and addition of items in SHI, on bedtime technology use along with dietary changes and daytime exposure to sunlight to improve sleep quality is recommended.
The Relationship between Serum Triglyceride Level and Heart Rate Variability in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients of North Karnataka FareedabanuA Balikai, Neeta Deshpande, Shivalingappa Javali, DarshitP Shetty, JyotiM Benni, Varsha Shindhe, Kamaruddin Jaalam, Nitin Kapoor Journal of Diabetology, 2020 Context: Diabetes mellitus is associated with an increased risk of mortality and morbidity from cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is mainly because of dyslipidemias. Several researchers have suggested that increased serum lipid fractions such as low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and total cholesterol (TC) were linked to decreased heart rate variability (HRV). Until now no papers have studied the association between serum triglyceride (TG) values and HRV. Aims: The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum TG levels and HRV in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Materials and Methods: The study included 120 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (both male and female) of the age group 35–65 years, who visited Belgaum Diabetes Centre. They were selected by simple random sampling and recruited into the study. The patients were divided into three groups depending on the duration of diabetes. The study duration was 6 months. One-minute HRV was analyzed during deep breathing and defined as the difference between the shortest and the longest heart rate interval measured by Lead II electrocardiographic recording during six cycles of deep breathing using an electrocardiograph (BPL Cardiart 6208 BPL Medical Technologies Pvt Ltd, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore, India). Kubios HRV Standard (version 3.0, Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland) software tool was used to analyze HRV. Fasting serum TG of all the patients (5mL of venous blood) was analyzed using semiautomatic analyzer (Transasia Erba Chem –5 Plu, Transasia Bio-Medicals, Andheri east, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India). Data were analyzed by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS 20.0 version, IBM Bangalore, Karnataka, India) software program, version 20.0. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s multiple post hoc tests was used for comparison and Karl Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to test the correlation between serum TG values and HRV in the three groups. The statistical significance was set at 5% level (P < 0.05). Results: No significant difference was observed in the TG levels (P > 0.05) between the three groups of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The TG levels were significant and negative correlation was observed with HRV (r = 0.6141, P = <0.001) at 5% level of significance in all the three groups. Conclusion: From this study, we conclude that the hypertriglyceridemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus could affect HRV. Further studies are needed to prospectively validate the impact of this novel finding.
