A Cross Sectional Survey of Health Behaviors, Self-Prescription and Care Needs among Pharmacy Students of Different Institutions of Punjab, Pakistan

The pharmacist has a deep understanding of drugs and has an important role in the physical well-being of the public. Therefore, the well-being of a pharmacist also has an impact on patients. The objective of this study was to investigate the health behaviors, care needs, and behaviors toward self-prescription of Pakistani pharmacy students, and the differences between preclinical and clinically active students. Students (n = 732) including 42% males (n = 312) and 58% females (n = 420) from pharmacy departments of different institutes were invited for an online survey. Physical activity, eating habits, body mass index, alcohol consumption, substance use, smoking and the amount of sleep in a whole day were investigated, as well as their need for different forms of care and their behaviors regarding self-prescription. Data from 732 students was used. Alcohol consumption, smoking, and substance use were negligible, which is satisfactory. Abnormal sleep pattern (10%) and negligible alcohol consumption and smoking were also satisfactory. Unhealthy eating habits prevailed in both the preclinical (66%) and the clinical (60%), and less physical activity (p = 0.001) was also alarming in both the preclinical (64%) and the clinical (50%), which is a worrying factor. Care needs and self-prescription (p = 0.001) were significantly lower in clinically active students. Unhealthy behaviors are generally low in clinically active students, indicating the increasing maturity of the students with the progression of the study. Self-prescription was also generally higher in preclinical students.