Knowledge, attitude and practice of self-medication in general population of central India

Abstract

Self-medication is widely used in both urban and rural people around the world, even in developing nations like India. Inappropriate self-medication can squander resources, increase microbial resistance, and pose serious health hazards regardless of whether it can help in the prevention and treatment of illnesses that do not require medical attention. To determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of 200 participants on self-medication, a cross-sectional study using questionnaires was conducted. On the recommendation of pharmacists, 45.5% of respondents used self-medication in the previous six months. About 83% of respondents thought self-medication was harmful if it was used without proper knowledge of drugs and diseases, 69% thought pharmacists were good resources for advice and information about minor medical issues, 59% thought self-medication was acceptable in some situations, and 34% thought a drug's effectiveness was unrelated to its price. Self-medication was favoured by the majority of respondents (38%) for minor illnesses like coughs, colds, and fevers. Due to time savings, participants' confidence in their own medical expertise, the expensive cost of visiting a doctor, and the clinic's distance from their homes, self-medication was chosen. Even though self-medication has negative effects, many nevertheless do it since it's more convenient. The general public should therefore be made aware of the potential risks associated with self-medication.