Awareness Of Side Effects Research Articles

Patterns of caffeine consumption among medical undergraduates in Secunderabad, Telangana, India.

Caffeine products are increasingly found in a wide range of products that abuse of the substance may be unnoticed. Introduction of new energy drinks has led to an increase in consumption of caffeine in the last few decades. Caffeine is a cognitive booster and has physically enhancing effects, leading to its higher consumption across various age groups. The objective of this study was to determine patterns of caffeine consumption and to determine the knowledge and awareness of side effects and safety limits of caffeine consumption among medical undergraduate students. A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2021 to February 2022 in the Department of Community Medicine at a tertiary care institute, Secunderabad, Telangana, India, among 560 medical undergraduate students of all academic years. A predesigned, pretested, semistructured questionnaire was administered. The mean age of the study population was 19.09 years, and female preponderance (61.2%) was noted. The average self-reported caffeine consumption was 151.3 mg/day. The average caffeine consumption was found to be higher among males (174 mg/day) as compared to females (137 mg/day). The average consumption of caffeine during exam time was higher than the daily ceiling limit, >300 mg/day, in 38.1% of students, which was statistically significant (P = 0.015). Caffeine consumption during times of stress increased among medical students, which is an unfavorable sign as the majority of the times, medical students in future have to deal with physically and emotionally stressful situations during work hours.

Understanding Public Awareness and Practices of Nonsurgical Facial Dermal Fillers: A Cross-Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia.

Dermal fillers augment soft tissues by replacing lost volume in the skin or subcutaneous fat. Dentists and other professionals utilize or recommend facial fillers for cosmetic and therapeutic purposes. This study aims to investigate public awareness regarding using nonsurgical facial dermal fillers in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online self-administered questionnaire distributed to a total of 400 males and females through social media platforms. The participants reside in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test were employed for data analysis. A total of 256 participants completed the survey, including 204 females and 51 males, with a mean age of 33.86 (SD = 10.5) years. Among the participants, 88 (34.4%) reported using facial fillers. Among them, only 46 (18%) were frequent consumers. Knowledge regarding correctly using facial fillers was generally high, especially for the lips (240, 94%), chin augmentation (203, 79.3%), and face lifting (226, 88.3%). However, participants' knowledge needed improvement in other areas. Most participants were aware of the side effects, except for visual impairment (83, 32.4%) and blockage of the vessels (128, 50%). The findings highlighted a remarkable level of knowledge among participants regarding the uses of fillers. However, participants demonstrated low awareness of all possible side effects associated with the treatment. Participants had valid reasons for undergoing facial treatments. However, constraints preventing them from pursuing fillers included fear of unexpected results and financial limitations.

Role of predictors in acceptance of post-exposure prophylaxis with single-dose rifampicin among contacts of leprosy in rural area of Bankura: An explanatory mixed-method study

Background: India achieved the elimination of leprosy two decades ago although its sustenance continues to be threatened by ongoing active transmission in few remaining pockets. There is a paucity of data regarding the acceptance of single-dose rifampicin (SDR) prophylaxis among healthy contacts. Aims and Objectives: The aims and objectives of the study are to assess the factors influencing the acceptability of SDR among contacts. Materials and Methods: A community-based, sequential, explanatory mixed-method study was conducted over 6 months from September 2022 to February 2023 among 168 contacts of leprosy patients from two blocks in Bankura district, West Bengal. Quantitative analysis was done for SDR acceptance and its predictors among contacts using the Chi-square test, Mann–Whitney U test, and Logistic regression. This was followed by qualitative assessment using focus group discussions and in-depth interviews among contacts to explain the findings through a thematic approach. Results: Household contacts (aOR=13.72, 95% CI=2.09–90.19), increasing knowledge score of contacts (aOR=3.18, 95% CI=1.88–5.38), counseling by health workers (aOR=11.98, 95% CI=2.20–65.15), trust in health workers (aOR=152.96, 95% CI=13.17–1776.09), and not taking other medicines for comorbidity (aOR=35.82, 95% CI=2.94–436.02) were associated with increased SDR uptake among leprosy contacts. Barriers and facilitators of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)-SDR were categorized as contact, health workers, and program-related factors. Conclusion: SDR acceptability among contacts was 77.4%. Facilitators of SDR-PEP were awareness of side-effects, follow-up, prompt support by health workers, IEC, belief in National programs, etc. Lack of knowledge of PEP-SDR and contraindications, ineffective counseling by health workers, stigma of the disease, the increased workload of health workers, etc., were the barriers to SDR-PEP implementation.

Subjective memory complaints and medication adherence among hypertensive Korean older adults with multimorbidity: mediating effect of depression and social support

Background & Aim(s)Medication adherence (MA) is a key factor in maintaining adequate blood pressure and preventing complications. However, some older adults experience difficulties in taking medicine properly due to declines in cognitive function. Although subjective memory complaints (SMC) are recognized as early markers of cognitive impairment, previous studies concerning the relationship between MA and cognitive function have focused only on objective cognitive function. Furthermore, while depression has a high correlation with SMC, low MA, and social support, there is limited evidence on their relationship. This study aims to understand the effect of SMC on MA and the mediating effect of depression and social support.Method(s)This study is a descriptive cross-sectional investigation. A sample of 195 community-dwelling hypertensive older adults with multimorbidity from 3 community senior centers in Gwangju, South Korea were recruited through convenience sampling. Data was collected through face-to-face survey from January to March 2018. The PROCESS macro v4.2 program [Model 6] was used to analyze the mediating effect of depression and social support in the relationship between SMC and MA. Data analysis was performed using SPSS/WIN 26.0 and STATA MP 17.0.ResultsThe average MA was 6.74. There were significant differences in MA according to awareness of prescribed drugs, awareness of side effects, insomnia, and healthcare accessibility. SMC was positively correlated with depression, while social support and MA were negatively correlated. While depression was a significant mediator of the effect of SMC on MA, the mediating effect of social support was not significant. The multiple mediation effect of depression and social support was not significant.ConclusionThe results suggest that medication management of older adults in community settings should be accompanied by a comprehensive health assessment of associated factors. Health professionals should explore strategies to improve memory as well as prevent and alleviate depression to increase MA among hypertensive older adults with multimorbidity.

Kampo Medicine for Neurological Diseases

Goreisan, Goshuyuto, Tokishakuyakusan, and Keishibukuryogan are frequently used to treat migraines. Goreisan is also used to treat chronic subdural hematoma. Yokukansan and Keishikaryukotsuboreito are useful for alleviating the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. Keishikajyutsubuto and Shinbuto are used to treat numbness and pain associated with peripheral neuropathy. Hangeshashinto has been successfully attempted to treat intractable hiccoughs. It is advisable to use an extract of stable quality in accordance with the rule of thumb described in the classics. However, awareness of side effects, such as pseudoaldosteronism caused by licorice, is important.

Association Between Awareness of Side Effects and Motivation for Vaccination of Pentavalent Vaccine in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Association Between Awareness of Side Effects and Motivation for Vaccination of Pentavalent Vaccine in a Tertiary Care Hospital

INCIDENCE OF TINEA INCOGNITO IN PATIENTS WITH DERMATOPHYTOSIS

BACKGROUND: Dermatophytosis is a common supercial fungal infection of the skin.In India there is casual and indiscriminate use of over- the-counter topical medications.Topical steroids are the most widely used agents and inappropriate use of these agents lead to side effects. ToAIM: assess the magnitude of topical corticosteroids use in dermatophytosis by studying the source of medication, demographic variables, and side effects. It is a cross sectional, questionnaire based study carried out in the Department of Dermatology,MATERIALS AND METHODS: Venereology and Leprosy,Saveetha medical college. One hundred patients conrmed to have Tinea incognito were questioned about the duration of illness, the medications used and the side effects observed. An informed consent will be obtained from all the patients and recorded on specialized designed proforma. The study population consisted of 74 males and 26 females.Tinea corporis is the most common patternRESULTS: observed(53%).Clobetasol was the common drug misused and 75% of the study population complained of adverse effects. CONCLUSION: Topical corticosteroids are constantly being used for indications where they shouldn't be used.The increasing threat of OTC(Over the counter) use is evident from this study .Thus better control policies and awareness of side effects is the need of the hour.

0862 A unique case of severe sleep onset and maintenance insomnia following COVID-19 vaccination

IntroductionThe COVID-19 vaccines have documented transient side effects, including injection site soreness, redness, headache, fatigue, and fever. In addition, there have been few reported long-term side effects, including Guillain-Barre, pericarditis, and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. We present a rare case of severe insomnia as a long-term side effect following COVID-19 vaccination. Report of Cases: A 59-year-old female with a past medical history of well-controlled hypothyroidism and migraine presented to the sleep center with four months of insomnia. She had a history of COVID infection in November 2020 with only mild symptoms of sore throat and fatigue. The patient finished her two-shot series of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in April 2021. Immediately following the vaccination, the patient had severe trouble falling and staying asleep. Her insomnia was resistant to multiple medications including zolpidem Immediate-release(IR), Controlled-release(CR) formulas, zaleplon, eszopiclone, trazodone, melatonin, clonazepam, suvorexant, and lemborexant. However, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain imaging only showed nonspecific white matter disease. She had no mood disorders or psychosocial stressors, and the patient had excellent sleep hygiene measures. However, insomnia caused severe impairment of her daily life activities to a point where she was almost seeking inpatient admission for her insomnia. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects on sleep have been significant, particularly insomnia. Prescriptions for sleep medications have increased. Many have attributed the rise of insomnia to pandemic-related stress, disturbance of circadian rhythm from home confinement, and worsening mental health.ConclusionTo our knowledge, there have not been documented side effects of insomnia on the COVID-19 vaccines, with some studies suggesting sleep deprivation reducing their effectiveness. As vaccination efforts continue worldwide, awareness of side effects from vaccines is paramount for clinicians facing the challenges in patient care.This case demonstrates that chronic insomnia can be a side effect of the COVID-19 vaccines. Therefore, further surveillance of patients and side effects from COVID-19 vaccination is warranted as insomnia can have significant clinical and psychosocial consequences.Support (If Any)

Consistency between patients and families in recognizing cancer chemotherapy side effects: A questionnaire survey.

BackgroundAlthough the side effects of cancer chemotherapy impair a patient's quality of life, family members' awareness of side effects may relieve patient anxiety and distress.AimWe investigated whether patients and their families were consistent in recognizing the occurrence and severity of symptomatic side effects of chemotherapy treatment for cancer.Methods and resultsThis was a prospective observational study. We administered a questionnaire survey to patients and family members to assess the frequency of occurrence (1: never, 2: almost never, 3: sometimes, 4: frequently, 5: almost always, 6: unknown) and the degree of severity (1: mild, 2: moderate, 3: severe, 4: extremely severe, 5: unknown) of physical and psychological symptoms associated with cancer chemotherapy. Weighted Kappa and Cramer coefficients were used to assess consistency between the two groups. We surveyed 20 pairs of patients (5 men, 15 women) and their families (10 men, 10 women); 17 pairs lived together. The median age was 65.5 years (interquartile [IQR], 58.75, 69.25) for patients and 61.00 years (IQR, 47.25, 71.25) for family members. Of patients, 17 had solid cancer, and three had leukemia. Family members mostly recognized objectively visible symptoms such as hair loss and development of spots and keratinization. However, it was difficult for families to detect invisible subjective symptoms such as weakness, dysesthesia, depressed mood, and unarticulated anxiety.ConclusionsThe results indicated that recognition of invisible subjective symptoms in patients undergoing chemotherapy was difficult even for family members. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach in which various medical professionals actively communicate with both patients and families is important. Information sharing in collaboration with patients and families could increase understanding of the patient's condition and optimize patient care.

Side effects of the metacognitive training for depression compared to a cognitive remediation training in patients with depression

Although awareness of side effects over the course of psychotherapy is growing, side effects are still not always reported. The purpose of the present study was to examine side effects in a randomized controlled trial comparing Metacognitive Training for Depression (D-MCT) and a cognitive remediation training in patients with depression. 84 patients were randomized to receive either D-MCT or cognitive remediation training (MyBrainTraining) for 8 weeks. Side effects were assessed after the completion of each intervention (post) using the Short Inventory of the Assessment of Negative Effects (SIAN) and again 6 months later (follow-up) using the Negative Effects Questionnaire (NEQ). D-MCT and MyBrainTraining did not differ significantly in the number of side effects. At post assessment, 50% of the D-MCT group and 59% of the MyBrainTraining group reported at least one side effect in the SIAN. The most frequently reported side effect was disappointment in subjective benefit of study treatment. At follow-up, 52% reported at least one side effect related to MyBrainTraining, while 34% reported at least one side effect related to the D-MCT in the NEQ. The most frequently reported side effects fell into the categories of “symptoms” and “quality”. Our NEQ version was missing one item due to a technical error. Also, allegiance effects should be considered. The sample size resulted in low statistical power. The relatively tolerable number of side effects suggests D-MCT and MyBrainTraining are safe and well-received treatment options for people with depression. Future studies should also measure negative effects to corroborate our results.

The awareness and practice of dentists regarding medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw and its prevention: a cross-sectional survey

BackgroundAccurate documentation of a patient’s prior medication use and awareness of side effects associated with anti-osteoporotic agents can assist dentists to prevent medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw. I aimed to determine the awareness of Korean dentists regarding medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw and the duration of drug holidays they prescribe to patients who need to undergo various dental procedures.MethodsAn online, questionnaire-based survey was conducted among 1000 dentists registered in an online community in Korea. The following were determined: general characteristics; type of practice; recordkeeping regarding patients’ use of bone-modifying agents; requirement of a doctor’s referral letter; advice given regarding drug holidays of bone-modifying agents before dental surgery procedures; and experience with medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw. Differences between dentists with and without experience in treating patients with medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw were evaluated using the χ2 test.ResultsAlthough a relatively high proportion (293/1000, 29.3%) of dentists had experienced cases of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw, only 650/1000 (65.0%) routinely documented the type of bone-modifying agent used by patients and the duration of its use. Moreover, only 591/1000 (59.1%) dentists routinely requested referral letters from doctors before performing dental surgery on patients. Although the recommended period for a drug holiday differs for each drug, 533/1000 (53.3%) dentists did not make such a distinction. There was a statistically significant difference in the level of detail documented in terms of anti-osteoporotic drug use between dentists who had no experience in medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (707/1000) and those who had such experience (P = 0.007). There was a statistically significant difference in the length of drug holidays prescribed between dentists with and without prior experience with the condition (P = 0.001).ConclusionsThese results suggest that dentists do not respond consistently to patients' drug history prior to performing dental procedures. This implies the need for increased cooperation between dentists and physicians, as well as the development of targeted educational interventions for the dental profession, to reduce the risk of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.Trial registrationNot applicable.

Awareness of corticosteroids’ side effects among attendees in King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Buraydah city, Saudi Arabia

Background: Corticosteroids “steroids” are anti-inflammatory drugs prescribed to reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system in many conditions such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, urticaria, inflammatory bowel diseases, inflamed joints. Steroids are one of the most widely prescribed drugs. Despite its severe side effects, only a few studies have been reported the severity of the problem and the awareness of the patients in Saudi Arabia. This study primarily is focused on assessing understanding for corticosteroid users or non-user about corticosteroids’ adverse effects with different usage of dosage forms among attendees in King Fahad Specialist Hospital (KFSH) in Buraydah city. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Convenient sampling was taken from attendees in KFSH in Buraydah city. The sample consisted of users and non-users for the corticosteroids drugs in any form, whether in outpatient or inpatients or visitors. Results: Overall, in our study, we found a low level of awareness among attendees “users and non-users” in KFSH about the adverse effects of corticosteroids, and the awareness of users was higher than non-users. Conclusion: Corticosteroid therapy is essential in clinical practice, yet it can have significant side effects if misused. Overall, we discovered that attendees at KFSH had a poor level of awareness of corticosteroids’ side effects; additionally, users were more aware of side effects than non-users, and the incidence of the disease will increase awareness about side effects. Younger age groups were more aware, and there was minimal variation of understanding in gender.

Patient-Reported Outcomes During Immunotherapy for Metastatic Melanoma: Mixed Methods Study of Patients' and Clinicians' Experiences.

BackgroundThe benefits of electronic patient reported outcomes (PRO) questionnaires have been demonstrated in many settings, including in hospitals and patient homes. However, it remains to be investigated how melanoma patients and their treating clinicians experience the electronic self-reporting of side effects and the derived communication.ObjectiveThe primary objective of this study was to examine patients’ and clinicians’ experiences with an eHealth intervention for weekly monitoring of side effects during treatment with immunotherapy.MethodsAn eHealth intervention based on questions from the PRO-Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) library was used and tested in a randomized clinical trial with patients receiving immunotherapy for malignant melanoma and clinicians at a university hospital in Denmark. On a weekly basis, patients reported their symptoms from home during the treatment via a provided tablet. The electronic patient reports were available to clinicians in the outpatient clinic. A mixed methods approach was applied to investigate the patients’ and clinicians’ experiences with the intervention. Data from patient experiences were collected in a short survey, the Patient Feedback Form. Moreover, a subset of the patients participating in the survey was interviewed about their experience. Furthermore, one focus group interview with clinicians was carried out to elucidate their views.ResultsA total of 57 patients completed the Patient Feedback Form, and 14 patients were interviewed. The focus group interview included 5 clinicians. Overall, patients and clinicians were satisfied with the tool. They believed it enhanced patients’ awareness of side effects and increased their feeling of involvement. The patients reported that it was easy to fill out the questionnaire and that it made sense to do so. However, a minority of the patients expressed in the interviews that they did not believe that the health care professionals had seen their reports when they came to the clinic, and that the reporting did not lead to increased contact with the department.ConclusionsOverall, satisfaction with the eHealth intervention was high among patients and their treating clinicians. The tool was easy to use and contributed to greater symptom awareness and patient involvement. Thus, in terms of patient and clinician satisfaction with the tool, it makes sense to continue using the tool beyond the project period.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT03073031; https://tinyurl.com/tjx3gtu

LYMPHEDEMA TREATMENT CERTIFIED PHYSICAL THERAPISTS' AWARENESS OF AND PRACTICE PATTERNS FOR SIDE EFFECT RISK REDUCTION AFTER BREAST CANCER TREATMENTS

Background: Lymphedema and other side effects (SEs) of breast cancer (BC) treatments are a clinical condition; hence, input based on clinical experience is highly relevant for deciding on intervention.Purpose: To evaluate lymphedema treatment certified physical therapists' (CLT) awareness of SEs after BC treatments and their recommendations for risk-reduction.Methods: In a mixed model qualitative study, a convenience sample of 20 CLTs with at least 5-years' experience were interviewed by phone call. Topics discussed were SEs after BC treatments and recommendations for risk reduction.The authors analyzed the data separately and then discussed the interpretation of similarities and differences.Results: The most frequently mentioned SEs were arm lymphedema, breast swelling, pain, and shoulder movement limitation. General SEs, such as stress and anxiety, were also mentioned. There was consensus on the need for education about lymphedema, infection prevention, and physical activity, but not on the optimal timing to provide instruction, orfor a preliminarysession with a CLT.Conclusions: The participants wereaware of and knowledgeable about common SEs after BC surgery and preventive interventions, in keeping with best practice recommendations. However, remaining controversies raise the need for a practical guideline for SEs risk reduction after BC surgery.

Implementing a digital clinical decision support tool for side effects of antipsychotics: a focus group study

BackgroundIn medicine, algorithms can inform treatment decisions by combining the most up-to-date evidence about side effect profiles of medications, which are comparable in efficacy. Their use provides opportunities for improved...

Perspective of elderly patients on chronic use of potentially inappropriate medication – Results of the qualitative CIM-TRIAD study

Although potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) is associated with risk of harm due to adverse effects, it is frequently prescribed for elderly patients. The aim of this qualitative multi-center study was to gain insight into contextual factors that might lead to chronic PIM use. We conducted semi-structured interviews with elderly patients with or without chronic PIM use (patient interviews: n = 52). Patients were between 86 and 96 years old. The participants were recruited from the AgeCoDe study. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. The transcripts of the interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Deductive and inductive categories were determined. We found contextual factors related to the patient and related to patient-general practitioner (GP) communication that might lead to chronic PIM use (i.e., positive features of PIM, maintaining characteristics of medication intake, barriers to deprescribe PIM, external actors supporting PIM intake, system-related factors). Besides certain health-related behaviours (e.g., own obligation to report to GP) and medication-related attitudes and knowledge (e.g., awareness of side effects and interaction of medicines), patient-GP-interactions that were characterised by mutual agreements on drugs (e.g., concerning dosage or discontinuation of a drug) might be advantageous to reduce the probability of chronic PIM use. The results might assist in the development of guidelines and educational programs aiming to reduce PIM use in the elderly.

No Laughing Matter: Presence, Consumption Trends, Drug Awareness, and Perceptions of "Hippy Crack" (Nitrous Oxide) among Young Adults in England.

In clinical settings, nitrous oxide gas is a safe anesthetic used during childbirth, in dentistry, and to relieve anxiety in emergencies. Colloquially known as “hippy crack”’ or “laughing gas,” it is increasingly taken recreationally for its euphoric and relaxing effects and hallucinogenic properties. Using a self-reported survey, we gathered quantitative and qualitative information on users and non-users of hippy crack among a young population regarding: consumption patterns, knowledge, risk awareness and intentions toward future abuse. Quantitative responses from a total of 140 participants were analyzed for frequencies and relationships, whereas qualitative data were evaluated via identifying the reoccurring themes. Overall, 77.1% (n = 108) had heard of hippy crack and 27.9% (n = 39) admitted to past-year use. Prior users mostly indicated intended future use, had an average low number of past-year uses but some with > 20 occasions, had a varied number of inhalations per occasion (often 1–10) with an effect lasting up to 5 min, and a majority preferred social rather than lone use. For non-users, 79.2% said they would take hippy crack with the vast majority (94%) preferring a social setting. The results show a concerning gap between available evidence and awareness of side effects. Despite serious reported side effects, including psychosis and myeloneuropathy—especially on the young developing brain—only a minority (29.3%) was aware of any side effects. In contrast, in a hypothetical scenario depicting a first social encounter with hippy crack, the qualitative responses were in contrast to qualitative outcomes revealing that participants would try (n = 30)/not try (n = 25) it, would feel under pressure to try it (n = 6) with only 11 opting to exit the situation. In summary, this first report of trends and perceptions of the use of hippy crack among young adults in the England highlights a lack of concern with side effects, coupled to a willingness to partake. Because typical users are young with risks to the still developing brain, education about the nitrous oxide abuse is warranted to prevent impaired brain development. Further studies to investigate the possible effects of nitrous oxide on the developing brain in young adults would advance meaningful prevention.

Pattern of Self Prescribed Analgesic Use in a Rural Area of Delhi: Exploring the Potential Role of Internet.

Analgesics are the most common self prescribed drugs. Although considered to be relatively safe, side effects are often seen when these drugs are used for prolonged period, in high doses or used where contraindicated. Majority of the consumers are not aware of the side effects. These days ample amount of information is available on web, it is important to explore its role in educating the population regarding the safe use of self prescribed analgesics. To explore pattern of analgesic use, to identify population at risk of developing side effects related to analgesic use, awareness of side effects and potential role of internet to bring awareness about safe use of self prescribed analgesic drugs in a rural area of Delhi. A cross-sectional survey based study was done on 500 adults in the age group of 18-65 years of Madanpur Khadar area of South Delhi, India. Data collection was done by conducting visits to pharmacy shops from the people who were buying drugs without prescription and taking face to face interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive tests with Microsoft office excel 2007. Results of our study showed that among all the self prescribed analgesics paracetamol (57%) was used most frequently followed by aspirin and other NSAIDs. It was found that 9.6% of the consumers were having associated co-morbid illness, 11.4% were simultaneously taking other drugs and 15.2% were alcoholics. Majority (65.4%) of the buyers were not aware about any kind of side effects of the analgesics. Internet friendly consumers were found to be 44%. Ability to use internet and education level were found to be directly related (r=0.802). The pattern of analgesic consumption in the rural population of Delhi shows that a large number of consumers may be at risk of developing side effects of self prescribed analgesics. The awareness about the side effects is limited. A significant number of consumers are internet friendly. Hence, we recommend use of website/mobile apps as potential source of information in educating the population regarding the use of self prescribed analgesics.

Self-medication among rural residents in Lagos, Nigeria

Background: Self-medication is becoming an increasingly important component of healthcare in both developing and developed countries and has the potential to do good as well as cause harm. The prevalence of irresponsible self-medication is high all over the world. This study aimed to assess self-medication among rural residents in Lagos, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Ijede community, Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos state, Southwest Nigeria. A multistage sampling method was used to select 337 adult respondents. Data were collected using a structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire. Results: Majority (315, 93.5%) of the respondents had good knowledge about self-medication; 334 (94.1%) had a positive attitude against the use of self-medication; and 311 (92.3%) practiced self-medication. There was no association between the respondents’ overall knowledge and their practice of self-medication. The practice of self-medication was significantly higher among respondents with the highest level of education (odds ratio 4.3, confidence interval 1.3–14.3). Conclusions: Majority of the respondents had good knowledge about self-medication and a positive attitude against the practice. Despite the high level of education and the awareness of side effects, majority of them still practiced self-medication. There should be an increase in awareness and continuous education in the community regarding the importance of professional consultation before drug use, the implications of irresponsible self-medication, and the place of responsible self-medication.

An epidemiological study of self-medication among urban adults of Aligarh

Background: Self prescribing is usually defined as “medication that is taken on the patient’s own initiative or on the advice of a pharmacist or lay person.” In developing countries like India, private pharmacies are the predominant drug dispensers and “prescription only” drugs are available for sale in official pharmacies without a prescription. Modern medicament though of prime importance to humanity is potentially hazardous when administered indiscriminately in the form of “self-medication.” Objectives: To study the prevalence and pattern of self-medication among urban adults. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was done among 424 adults aged 18 years and above residing in registered field practice area of Urban Health Training Centre. The sample was drawn using systematic random sampling with probability proportionate to size. The interview was taken using predesigned and pre-tested questionnaire. Out of 424, 395 adults responded to the questionnaire. Results were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Tests of proportion were used. Results: The prevalence of self-medication was found to be 83%. Pain was the most common symptom for self-medication. The source of drugs was mainly medical store. Lack of time, mild illnesses were the most common reason for not seeking medical advice. The majority of them were unaware of the adverse effects related to self-medication. Conclusion: Higher prevalence, as well as low awareness of side effects of self-medication, was seen. Awareness regarding the adverse consequence related to self-medication should be raised to lower the prevalence of self-medication.