PATTERN OF SUBSTANCE USE AMONG MEDICAL INTERNS IN TERTIARY HEALTH CARE CENTRE OF NORTH INDIA: A CROSSECTIONAL STUDY

A cross sectional study was conducted on 236 internship students in Department of Psychiatry, SMS Medical College. The study was intended to determine the prevalence, type and the pattern of substance use in medical interns. A self-designed semistructred questionnaire was used for the detailed interview after taking written informed consent from the students. Identity of the students were concealed. Data analysis was done using proportion and chi square test as statistical test. The lifetime prevalence of substance use was 74 % in our study. Males had signicantly higher lifetime and past month prevalence of substance use than females. Alcohol was the most commonly used substance followed by smoking. High prevalence of substance use in medical students emerge out a crucial problem in medical students which require an exigent need for change in interns by experienced professionals.