Self-medication Research Articles

A Cross-Sectional Study to Investigate the Prevalence of Self-Medication of Non-Opioid Analgesics Among Medical Students at Qassim University, Saudi Arabia.

Self-medication (SM) using non-opioid analgesics (NOA) is contentious and increasingly recognized as a major public health concern with severe consequences, including masking of malignant and fatal diseases, risk of misdiagnosis, problems relating to over- and under-dosing, drug interactions, incorrect dosage, and choice of therapy. Herein, we aim to determine the prevalence of SM with NOA among pharmacy and medical students at Unaizah College, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study using a validated self-administered questionnaire was conducted on 709 pharmacy and medicine students belonging to an age group of 21-24 years from Unaizah Colleges. Data were statistically analyzed using SPSS version 21. Of 709 participants, 635 responded to the questionnaire. Our results showed a prevalence percentage of 89.6% using self-medicated NOA for pain management. The most common factor leading to SM in NOA was the mild nature of the illness (50.6%), and headache/migraine (66.8%) was the dominant health problem. Paracetamol (acetaminophen, 73.7%) was the most commonly used analgesic, followed by ibuprofen (16.5%). The most common and reliable sources of drug information were pharmacists (51.5%). We observed a high rate of SM for NOA among undergraduate students. We believe that the adverse consequences of SM could be controlled through educational, regulatory, and administrative strategies by providing appropriate awareness sessions, and the role of pharmacists should be highlighted in preventing SM from NOA.

English

Self-medication (SM) is a medicinal product used to treat symptoms or self-medicate disorders identified by oneself. Overusing the medication recommended by a medical doctor for oneself or other family members (particularly when considering a child or an elder) falls into the description of SM. Treating medicine for oneself without specialist guidance might cause many side effects like prolonged disease course, drug resistance and complications. Even though informed SM is one method to decrease healthcare costs, inappropriate self-treatment poses different risks involving the recurrence of symptoms, drug resistance, drug side effects, etc. The study aims to examine the pervasiveness of SM in undergraduate students worldwide through a meta-analysis and systematic review of the study published on SM. A self-administered survey will collect data on demographic variables and practice SM to perform this study. The data is collected among undergraduate students from Aldayer University college, Jazan University, and KSA under three disciplines: English, maths, and nursing. The study aims to assess undergraduate students' knowledge regarding SM, identify drugs that students have taken without a prescription in the last six months, identify the reason for SM, identify sources of information about SM, and detect the sources of drugs utilized by students for SM. One hundred eighty samples were selected by purposive sampling per inclusive criteria at L Aldayer University College, Jazan University, KSA. The total number of samples is 180, of which 60 are collected from each discipline. In addition, machine learning-based support vector machine models can be used to generate predictive models to identify which studies are taking high SM. The experimental results stated that nursing college studies involve more SM practices than other undergraduate students.

The Awareness and Practice of Self-Medication Among the General Public in Jeddah and Makkah.

Background Self-medication (SM) can be defined as the improper practice of obtaining and consuming a pharmaceutical drug without the consultation or prescription of a licensed physician. This includes evaluating the intensity of signs and symptoms which could lead to treating oneself with a medicine or seeking urgent medical care. Although SM can be deemed as safe for one's health, drug accessibility accounts for an irrational choice of medicines and thus exposes oneself to the adverse effects of these medicines. Several regional studies have provided sufficient evidence about how SM has commonly been practiced and held in some settings, such as pharmacies. Aim In this study, we aimed to assess the practice and awareness of SM in the general public. Thus, we utilized a questionnaire-based survey to analyze SM awareness and practice among the general population in Jeddah and Makkah. In addition, we examined the impact of demographic variables, such as educational level, economic status, age, etc. on SM practice. Methods A cross-sectional survey was distributed via social media platforms in June 2020. The study included Jeddah and Makkah's general public, all different nationalities, and both genders, and it excluded participants below the age 18-year-old and with mental and cognitive instability. After extrapolating the sample size at a 95% confidence level with an estimated 50% response distribution, a margin of error ±5%, and accounting for a 5% non-response rate, the estimated sample size was determined to be 404. Results A total of 642 participants completed the online-based survey, but only 472 responses fit the study criteria. Most of the participants (64.6%) did not consult with a physician, i.e., practiced SM, whereas (34.5%) have visited a doctor. Furthermore, people who did not visit a doctor had the commonest belief (26.1%) that they did not need a doctor to investigate their symptoms. The awareness of SM among the general public in Makkah and Jeddah was assessed by asking whether they deem this practice harmful, harmless, or beneficial. 65.9%of the participants deemed the practice of SM as harmful, and 17.6%regarded the act as harmless. Conclusion This study revealed that 64.6% of the general public of Jeddah and Makkah practice self-medication, even though 65.9% deemed this act harmful. The contradiction between the public's opinion and the actual behavior towards self-medication implies the need for more awareness of self-medication and the importance of exploring the incentives of such behavior.

A report of Kabul internet users on self-medication with over-the-counter medicines

Self-medication (SM) with over-the-counter (OTC) medications is a prevalent issue in Afghanistan, largely due to poverty, illiteracy, and limited access to healthcare facilities. To better understand the problem, a cross-sectional online survey was conducted using a convenience sampling method based on the availability and accessibility of participants from various parts of the city. Descriptive analysis was used to determine frequency and percentage, and the chi-square test was used to identify any associations. The study found that of the 391 respondents, 75.2% were male, and 69.6% worked in non-health fields. Participants cited cost, convenience, and perceived effectiveness as the main reasons for choosing OTC medications. The study also found that 65.2% of participants had good knowledge of OTC medications, with 96.2% correctly recognizing that OTC medications require a prescription, and 93.6% understanding that long-term use of OTC drugs can have side effects. Educational level and occupation were significantly associated with good knowledge, while only educational level was associated with a good attitude towards OTC medications (p < 0.001). Despite having good knowledge of OTC drugs, participants reported a poor attitude towards their use. Overall, the study highlights the need for greater education and awareness about the appropriate use of OTC medications in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Association between self-medication with antibiotics and purchase of brand-name drugs: analysis of a national survey in Peru

Abstract Objectives To determine the association between self-medication with antibiotics (SMA) and purchase of brand-name drugs in Peru. Methods A secondary analysis was conducted using a nationally representative survey from 2014 to 2016. The exposure variable was self-medication (SM), which is defined as the purchase of drugs for self-administration without a medical prescription. The study outcome was the purchase of brand-name drugs (yes/no). Sociodemographic variables, such as health insurance and type of institution, were considered as confounders. To assess the association between SMA and the purchase of brand-name drugs, the crude prevalence ratios (cPR) and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) were calculated with their confidence intervals at 95% (95% CI) using a Poisson-type generalized linear model and considering the complex survey design. Key findings A total of 1862 participants were analysed; 54.4% of the participants were women with a mean age of 39.3 years. The prevalence rate of SMA was 54.3%, whereas that of the purchase of brand-name drugs was 55.3%. The adjusted Poisson regression analysis showed an association between SMA and the purchase of brand-name drugs (aPR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.18–1.37; P &amp;lt; 0.001). Conclusions It was found that 5 of 10 respondents SMA. Approximately 6 of 10 respondents that SMA used brand-name drugs. SMA is associated with a higher probability of purchasing brand-name drugs.

Self-medication among adults with chronic health conditions: a population-based cross-sectional survey in Saudi Arabia

ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess the prevalence of self-medication (SM), the reasons for SM and the relationship between chronic health conditions and SM among adult individuals.SettingThis was an online questionnaire-based...

Prevalence and Factors Influencing Self-Medication among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Urban Tertiary Hospitals in Nigeria

Despite the adverse effects of self-medication (SM), such as antimicrobial drug resistance, drug addiction, allergy, worsening of ailment, organ damage, disability, and death, the practice is still common and increasingly practiced globally, even among pregnant women. This study investigated the prevalence and factors influencing self-medication among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in urban tertiary hospitals in Nigeria. A facility-based cross-sectional study was carried out in two tertiary hospitals in Port Harcourt between 25 September and 24 October 2022, using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and logistics regression techniques, and statistical significance was set at p &lt; 0.05. A total of 413 respondents participated in the study. The prevalence of SM was 31.0% (95% CI = 26.7–73.3). Women who were not married and those with less than secondary education had the highest prevalence, 60.5% (95% CI = 45.1–74.0) and 51.1% (95% CI = 42.7–59.4), respectively. The common drugs used for SM were Paracetamol, antimalarials, antibiotics, cough and cold medicines, and herbal products. While the reasons for SM were emergency illness, high cost at health facilities, and distance to the health facility. The commonest illnesses/symptoms that necessitated SM included body pain, headache, fever, cold and cough, and vaginal discharge. Married women and those educated above the secondary level had lower odds of practicing SM compared to their counterparts; married (AOR = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.18–0.78) and &gt;secondary level (AOR = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.18–0.51). This study showed that a significant proportion of pregnant women practiced SM and marital status and educational level were the factors influencing SM in the studied population. We recommend public health education and reproductive health programmes aimed at discouraging unmarried women and those with minimal education from the irrational use of drugs during pregnancy.

PREVALENCE AND PATTERN OF SELF MEDICATION TO PREVENT COVID-19 INFECTION: POPULATION-BASED SURVEY

Objective: During COVID-19 pandemic, people have practiced one or more self-medication (SM) for prevention of the disease. This requires monitoring and evaluation to see the pattern of medicine used. Hence, in this study, we evaluated the prevalence and pattern of SM in various group of people. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted as an online survey on individuals who were in contact through mobile phone from October 2020 to March 2021. A pre-structured questionnaire-based Google form that contain questions related to SM practiced was prepared and circulated on social media application and email. Submitted forms were analyzed using Microsoft excel. Results: Out of 779 forms, 775 (99.4%) filled completely were considered in result. Majority (52%) of participants were in the age group of 20– 40 year. Six hundred and fifty-two (84%) participants had taken medication, out of which 40% were modern medicine users and rest 44% had used other than modern medicine. In modern medicine, Vitamin C was taken by 72% and in other group, lemon water was taken by 99% of participants. The prevalence of SM was highest among urban population (43%) with education up to postgraduation (53%). Health worker (57%) were highest among users. SM advice was received by doctors in 60% participants with belief of effectiveness against COVID-19 infection. Conclusion: SM was practiced by half of the participants that includes modern as well as other than modern medicine. It was mainly seen among people with higher education and who are associated with health-care system.

Assessment of Self-Medication Practice and Its Determinants Among Undergraduate Health Science Students of College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, North West Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Self-medication (SM) is the use of drugs or herbs to treat self-diagnosed physical ailments or symptoms without consulting a healthcare professional. It plays a great role in daily life and common in the healthcare system around the globe, especially in developing countries. Due to their expertise, health science students are also predicted to practice it more frequently. To evaluate the use of SM and its determinants among undergraduate health science students at the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, North West Ethiopia. 241 students took part in the study from September to November 2021. Using a recall time of four weeks, a quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study was utilized to evaluate the practice of self-medication and associated factors. Interviews and structured questionnaires were used to collect the data. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Overall, 246 students were approached. The questionnaire received responses from 241 students, for a 98% response rate. Self-medication was used by 58.1% of students over the course of the previous four weeks. Analgesic and antipyretic medications were the most often utilized pharmacological category (57.1%), followed by antibiotics (42.1%). The most frequent (50%) complaints involving SM were headache and fever. The mildness of the sickness was the primary factor in the study participants' practice of self-medication (50%). Self-medication is linked to gender (AOR: 3.415; 95% CI: 1.014-11.503), poor monthly income (AOR: 0.007; 0.0003-0.175), pharmacy student status (AOR: 52.603; 4.371-633.098), and medical laboratory student status (AOR: 0.037; 0.002-0.631). Self-medication was common among health science students. Students frequently use over-the-counter and prescription-only medications for SM. Sex, field of study and monthly income are independent predictors for SM use. Though it is not absolutely discouraged, awareness on the associated risks should be created.

A Comparative Piloting of Determinants of Self-Medication Among University Students in the MENA Region; UAE and Jordan as an Example.

Unsupervised self-medication (SM) is a global public health concern. University students are particularly vulnerable due to misperceptions of improved academic performance and thus are at risk of dependence, addiction, and drug overdose. Past studies have shown an alarming prevalence of SM among university students in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. However, there is a scarcity of reports from the region dissecting determinants of SM. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and epidemiological correlates of SM among university students and its perceived impact on their academic performance. Two countries in the MENA region were surveyed in a cross-sectional design; UAE and Jordan. Through a stratified sampling technique, undergraduate students in both healthcare and non-healthcare majors of study were recruited to participate. A structured, self-administered questionnaire developed for the purpose of this study was distributed to consented participants via the university's official email. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. A total of 362 students participated in the study (74% were females, 60% were from the UAE, and 59% were in healthcare majors). Significantly higher prevalence rates and adjusted odds of SM were found among females, students from Jordan, and those in healthcare majors, particularly for paracetamol (90.2% of females [p=0.001], 88.3% from Jordan [p=0.03], 92.5% in healthcare majors [p=0.001]) and antibacterial drugs (48.9% of females [p=0.01], 60.7% from Jordan [p=0.001], 53.3% in healthcare majors [p=0.001]). Majoring in healthcare fields was the most consistent determinant of such practice, while social influences of family and friends represented the chief source of recommendation. Only 21% of respondents assumed SM boosts their academic performance. Our pilot study underlines the predominant determinants of SM among university students in the MENA region, namely female gender, students from Jordan, and those in healthcare majors. Informed data-driven awareness campaigns to mitigate such practice should be designed to focus on these susceptible populations.

Self-Medication Practice for Dental Pain: Expectations and Rationality

Self-medication (SM) is the use of medicines by people who take drugs without the advice of doctors. Purpose: To determine the prevalence of SM for dental pain, to compare the contributing factors, perception, and awareness regarding the practice among medical, dental and, pharmacy students. Methods: This observational study was conducted among 573 year1 and year5 students undergoing the teaching of pharmacology. The validated questionnaires were distributed during the beginning of the years. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Results: The experience of dental pain by the students was 69-87%. The prevalence of SM among year1 and year5 were 30% and 49% (medical), 37% and 61% (dental), 46% and 57% (pharmacy) respectively with pharmacy year1 scoring highest at 46% and dental year5 at 61%. Both years medicated with analgesic at 17-33% while 35-70% opted for saltwater, ice packs, and others. The medical and pharmacy students perceived that they do not have a good ability to diagnose symptoms of dental pain. The majority was aware of drug interactions and expiratory dates. Conclusion: As expected, the year5 self-medicated more than the year1, made easy by the gain in knowledge and accessibility to medicines. Their perception and awareness rationalize them as future prescribers for medication.

Community purchases of antimicrobials during the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda: An increased risk for antimicrobial resistance.

Self-Medication (SM) involves the utilization of medicines to treat self-recognized symptoms or diseases without consultation and the irrational use of over-the-counter drugs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the lack of definitive treatment led to increased SM. We aimed to estimate the extent of SM for drugs used to treat COVID-19 symptoms by collecting data from pharmacy sale records. The study was conducted in Kampala, Uganda, where we extracted data from community pharmacies with functional Electronic Health Records between January 2018 and October 2021 to enable a comparison of pre-and post-COVID-19. The data included the number of clients purchasing the following drugs used to treat COVID-19 and its symptoms: Antibiotics included Azithromycin, Erythromycin, and Ciprofloxacin; Supplements included Zinc and vitamin C, while Corticosteroids included dexamethasone. A negative binomial model was used to estimate the incident rate ratios for each drug to compare the effect of COVID-19 on SM. In the pre- COVID-19 period (1st January 2018 to 11th March 2020), 19,285 customers purchased antibiotics which included; Azithromycin (n = 6077), Ciprofloxacin (n = 6066) and Erythromycin (n = 997); health supplements including Vitamin C (430) and Zinc (n = 138); and Corticosteroid including Dexamethasone (n = 5577). During the COVID-19 pandemic (from 15th March 2020 to the data extraction date in October 2021), we observed a 99% increase in clients purchasing the same drugs. The number of clients purchasing Azithromycin increased by 19.7% to 279, Ciprofloxacin reduced by 58.8% to 96 clients, and those buying Erythromycin similarly reduced by 35.8% to 492 clients. In comparison, there were increases of 170%, 181%, and 377% for Vitamin C, Zinc, and Dexamethasone, respectively. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the extent of SM in Uganda. We recommend future studies with a representation of data from pharmacies located in rural and urban areas to further study pandemics' effect on antimicrobials prescriptions, including obtaining pharmacists' perspectives using mixed methods approaches.

Prevalence and reasons for self-medication for prevention of COVID-19 among the adult population in Kermanshah-Iran.

To determine the prevalence of self-medication and reasons for self-medication (SM) for the prevention/treatment of COVID-19 among the adult population. Cross-sectional study. This study was performed on 147 adults in Kermanshah, Iran. Data were collected by a researcher-made questionnaire and analysed by SPSS-18 software using descriptive and inferential statistics. The prevalence of SM in the participants was 69.4%. Vitamin D and vitamin B complex were the most commonly used drugs. The most common symptoms leading to SM were fatigue and rhinitis. Strengthening the immune system and prevention of COVID-19 (48%) were the main reasons for SM. Factors related to SM included marital status [OR=8.04, 95% CI=(3.62, 17.83)], education [OR=0.16, 95%CI=(0.08, 0.35)] and monthly income [OR=0.09, 95%CI=(0.03, 0.26)]. Yes.

Prevalence and influencing factors of self-medication during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Arab region: a multinational cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has begun with a wave of misinformation and fear of infection. This may have led people to self-medicate inappropriately. The World Health Organization describes self-medication (SM) as utilizing medicines to relieve symptoms or health conditions without consulting a physician. Inappropriate drug use is a burden on both health resources and patient health in the Arab region. This study aimed to detect the prevalence and influencing factors of self-medication among the general Arab population during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA multinational cross-sectional study was conducted among the general population of ten Arab countries from early August to late October 2021. Participants aged 18 years or older could join the study via social media platforms. A convenience sampling technique was used. A developed and validated web-based questionnaire was used to collect data on self-medication practice, associated influencing factors, information sources, commonly used medications, and commonly treated conditions. Descriptive, univariate, and multivariate regression analyses were applied using IBM SPSS v 26 and R v 4.0.0 software.ResultsA total of 8163 participants completed the questionnaire, and 518 participants were excluded from the analysis due to inconsistencies in their data. Almost two-thirds (62.7%) of participants reported practicing self-medication during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the country level, Egypt had the highest prevalence of self-medication practice (72.1%), while Palestine had the lowest prevalence (40.4%). The most commonly used drugs were analgesics, antipyretics, and vitamins (86, 65.1, and 57.1%, respectively), while antitussives and antibiotics scored 47.6 and 43.3%, respectively. Experience with similar health conditions (74.6%) and urgency of the problem (47.2%) were the most frequent factors that led to self-medication. Additionally, 38.2% of the self-medicated participants (SMPs) used drugs as prophylaxis against COVID-19. Pharmacist consultation was the most common source of information about self-medication (66.7%). Multivariate analysis showed that predictors of self-medication were older age (p = 0.008), presence of chronic illness (p = 0.015), and having monthly income or medical insurance that does not cover the treatment cost (p = 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively).ConclusionSelf-medication is considered a common practice across the Arab population. It is necessary to regulate policies and raise awareness among the public about self-medication.

KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF SELF-MEDICATION AMONG HEALTHCARE AND NON-HEALTHCARE STUDENTS OF LAHORE, PAKISTAN

Introduction: Self-medication is regarded as the system of taking medicines without the consultation of licensed medical practitioner. Self-medication leads to irrational use of medical drugs which is hazardous for health. The prevalence of this crucial issue is rapidly increasing worldwide. The present study was aimed to access the pattern of self-medication trends in healthcare students and non-healthcare students of Lahore, Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional survey based observational study has been conducted to access the knowledge along with the attitude of medical and non-medical students regarding self-medication. The study settings included different universities and medical colleges of Lahore, Pakistan. A total of 301 students from medical department and other departments were included in the study. A validated self-medication assessment questionnaire was used to access the knowledge along with attitude pattern of self-medication among healthcare students as well as non-healthcare students. Results: The findings of the present study presented that medical students are more aware of the potential side effects and adverse reactions of the self-medicated drug as compared to the non-medical students. Whereas, trends of self-medication was observed to be slightly higher in healthcare students as compared to the non-healthcare students. Moreover, the frequency of antibiotic use was comparatively more frequent in medical students as compared to the non-medical graduates. Whereas, the use of painkillers without prescription was more prevalent in non-medical students as compare to the medical graduates. Conclusion: There has been a significant difference in knowledge of healthcare students and non-healthcare students of Lahore, Pakistan. Although both healthcare and non-healthcare students have high prevalence of self-medication but differences have been observed in case of drugs taken. Healthcare students practice self-medication more as compared to the non-health-care students. Peer Review History: Received: 10 November 2022; Revised: 18 December; Accepted: 5 January 2023, Available online: 15 January 2023 Academic Editor: Dr. Asia Selman Abdullah, Pharmacy institute, University of Basrah, Iraq, asia_abdullah65@yahoo.com Received file: Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10 Reviewers: Dr. A.A. Mgbahurike, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, amaka_mgbahurike@yahoo.com Prof. Hassan A.H. Al-Shamahy, Sana'a University, Yemen, shmahe@yemen.net.ye Similar Articles: ANTIMICROBIALS SELF MEDICATION AMONG PARAMEDICAL STUDENTS IN A NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY ANTIBIOTICS KNOWLEDGE AND THEIR USES AGAINST VARIOUS DISEASES AMONG THE DORMITORY STUDENTS OF A RESIDENTIAL UNIVERSITY IN BANGLADESH: A PILOT STUDY

Self-medication in ophthalmologic problems. What is known about it?

Self-medication (SM) refers to any practice for curative purposes that is not prescribed by a physician. It includes the use of conventional or allopathic medicine (CM) and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). In the case of ophthalmologic ailments, this division can also be seen, within CM, the use of anesthetics, analgesics and topical antibiotics, for the treatment of mainly traumatic pathologies, to save time and money, advised by their close circle, but always with the risk of not improving, abusing the medication, producing toxicity, masking the condition and giving an incorrect treatment. CAM highlights the use of biological therapies due to the variety of products that have been documented, such as chamomile, tea leaves, garlic, sage, etc. But also the use of mind-body therapies, manipulative and body-based methods; and energy therapies such as acupuncture; there are many more pathologies for which they are used compared to CM, and they resort to it precisely because of the lack of results of CM, the sources of information are usually similar and although they seem harmless, they are not innocuous. In general, it is a subject that is little addressed, but is relevant due to the risks involved. This manuscript seeks to provide an overview so that medical personnel remain expectant and in each intervention detect the areas of opportunity that reduce this practice.

A Study on Self Medication Practices During Covid-19 Pandemic

Self Medication(SM) “involves the use of medicinal products by the consumer to treat self recognized disordersor symptoms, or the intermittent or continued use of a medication prescribed by a physician for chronic orrecurring diseases or symptoms”. The objective of this study was to determine practices of Self Medication. Thepresent study was conducted in the field practice areas of the Department of Community Medicine, JawaharlalNehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, from August 2021 to July 2022. It was a communitybased cross-sectional study.A total of 424 people was included.Simple Random Sampling was done. Individuals≥18 years of age from families of RHTC and UHTC,those who experienced an episode of illness after start ofCovid-19 pandemic and those who gave consent were included in the study. Patients who were bed-ridden and/or suffering from mental illness and those who did not give consent were excluded from the study. Data entryand analysis was done in IBM SPSS v 26.0. Relevant statistical tests were applied wherever required. Nearlyhalf of the study population practised Self Medication as a form of treatment at least once in the preceding 12months.The major source of information for the choice, dosage and duration of the medicines consumed for SelfMedication in our study was found to be the pharmacist ( 69.0%). It was followed by prior experience (31.0%) andprevious prescription (15.2%). In our study analgesics and antipyretics were found to be consumed by the highestpercentage of study participants. People should be made aware of the risks of Self Medication and should beguided on responsible Self Medication. Awareness campaigns may be organised in this regard

Prevalence and the Factors Associated with Self-Medication Practice

Introduction: Self-medication (SM) is popular globally but leads to the wastage of resources, health hazards, and resistance to pathogens. This study aims to ascertain the frequency and manner, in which SM practices were employed by the urban population of Purba Bardhaman district, West Bengal. Materials and Methods: The study was an observational cross-sectional one conducted in Burdwan Municipality, West Bengal, India, using a sample size of 180 adults (aged at least 18 years), residing in the study area, i.e., urban slum area for at least 6 months and conducted over 2 months. The data have been collected through a semi-structured schedule consisting of questions on the sociodemographic characteristics of the study subjects and their SM practices. The data were thereafter analyzed, wherein descriptive statistics and a Chi-square test were used. Results: It was found that SM was prevalent among 48.9% of the study population, with most participants practicing SM for body pain, headache, and fever. Among the different classes of drugs used, analgesics were the most common (31.8%), followed by antipyretics (25.0%) and antacids (20.5%). The correlation between sociodemographic characteristics and the practice of SM showed that individuals below the age of 36 were found to be more likely to engage in SM, along with individuals who had a low monthly income, and no comorbidities. These subjects were practicing SM more than their counterparts and it was statistically significant with the P &lt; 0.05. Conclusion: The study emphasizes the importance of awareness and education regarding the proper use of over-the-counter drugs and recommends educating pharmacists and the public about the same. Public health programs should be introduced for the people living in slums to create cautiousness about SM.

Assessment of Parents’ Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Regarding Self-Medication for their Child’s Dental Problems during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Background: Self-medication (SM) refers to taking medicine without consultation with a doctor or dentist, and it is an important health issue, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study aims to evaluate parents’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding SM for their children’s dental problems during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kollam district, Kerala, India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out in the Public Health Center at Kollam District. A questionnaire which consists of 20 questions was given among a total of 108 parents who agreed to participate in the study. Data were entered into Microsoft Excel data sheet and were analyzed using SPSS for Windows (Statistical Presentation System Software, SPSS Inc.) version 17.0. Continuous data were represented as mean and standard deviation. Results: The majority of parents (n = 108, 82.4%) practiced SM for their children’s dental problems. Analgesics were the most commonly used medicines by parents in their SM and mainly SM was done for tooth pain. The current study also showed that most parents who practiced SM thought it was difficult to access health-care providers mainly due to COVID-19 and 63% of people said that their SM practice increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: The prevalence of SM practices for children’s dental problems is high in Kerala during the COVID-19 pandemic. Teledentistry might be a useful tool to overcome problems related to the SM of children during times when the ability to reach health-care providers is limited, during pandemics.

Parental Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices towards Self-medication for Various Oral Health-related Problems in Children: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Over the years, there has been an increase in the practice of self-medication (SM) with over-the-counter drugs for dental conditions. Regarding paediatric patients, it is important for parents to have proper knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding SM for their children. Aim: To assess the parental KAP towards SM for various oral health-related problems of children below 15 years of age. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at schools in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India, between March 2021 and January 2022. A total of 323 parents of children aged up to 15 years were included in the study. Data were collected from parents through a prevalidated questionnaire to record their demographic details and KAP of SM. Fisher’s exact test was used to compare KAP of SM with the age, gender, education, and socioeconomic status (SES) of parents. Results: The most common medicine and reason for which SM was practiced were pain relievers (85%) and expensive dental treatment (39.8%), respectively. The pharmacist was the most common source of information for SM (46.9%) and drug dosage (46%). There was a significant association (p=&lt;0.001) between children age groups and the presentation form of medicine. Additionally, statistically significant differences were found when comparing parents’ educational level and SES with dosage difference (p=0.01, p=&lt;0.001), route of administration of medicine (p=0.04, p=&lt;0.002), preference for expensive medicine (p=&lt;0.001, p=&lt;0.001), and reasons for not visiting the dentist (p=&lt;0.01, p=&lt;0.001), respectively. Furthermore, when SES was compared with course completion, a statistically significant difference was found (p=&lt;0.05). Conclusion: Knowledge regarding SM practice was lower in the low educational and low SES groups.