Study on usage of over the counter medication among college students in Telangana: a cross sectional study (original) (raw)
Related papers
2018
Introduction: Over the Counter (OTC) drugs are medicines, available without a prescription, and hence also referred to as ‘nonprescription drugs’. These drugs include tonics, iron preparations, vitamin medications, analgesics, NSAIDS, cough syrups, dermatological products, drugs for pyrexia, laxatives etc. Usage of OTC drugs can lead to unwanted drug interactions, misuse / abuse of drugs and ADRs. So it is important to assess people’s knowledge and understanding about OTC drugs. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted during October 2017 with a self-structured and pre-validated questionnaire. Study group consisted of ninety 3rd year medical students who have completed the Pharmacology course. Data were analyzed using descriptive analyses. Results: In this study, it was observed that 94.5% of the students were aware of OTC drugs. Among 90 students, 87 students ((96.7%) have used OTC drugs at least once. Fever (43.3%) followed by headache (38.9%) were the most common illnes...
A Study on Knowledge and Practices of Over the Counter Medications Among 2ND Year Medical Students
2015
Use of Over the counter drug as well as self – medication is a very common problem in India. Medical students are of no exception at this mal-practice. This study was to assess the extent of knowledge and practices of over the counter (OTC) drugs among 2 nd professional MBBS students in Burdwan Medical College. A questionnaire based study was conducted among 250 numbers of 2 nd year medical students. Among the participants, 84% know what is OTC drug and 71% know which drugs fall under OTC category. They took self-medication approximately four to five times on average in last one year. Most common conditions/symptoms for self-medication were fever (89%), cough and cold (75%), headache (67%), diarrhoea (33%), any type of pain (53%) followed by minor cut, vomiting. Antipyretics (82%), cough and cold preparation (51%) and pain-killers (49%) were the most common medicines taken. 15% of them experienced adverse reactions on OTC self medicated drugs. 58% followed the instructions as per Pa...
Use and availability of over the Counter medications among Indian Population
Purchase of specific medicines over the counter is legally not recognized in most countries. 'Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medicines' means drugs which are sold by pharmacists without a prescription. Technically, drugs are OTC unless they are specifically stated as prescription only drugs. This article describes the use of OTC medicines and their advantages and disadvantages. Commonly used OTC are for cough, cold, allergies, pain, fever, acidity, diarrhea, and skin-related conditions. OTC medicines are recognized by patient awareness programs, and support of pharmacists and pharmaceutical companies are required to optimize the use of OTC medicines in India.
Over the Counter Medications: An Assessment of their Safety and Use
Over the counter drug means a drug that is sold without a prescription. The use of over the counter drugs is growing rapidly in India. Therefore, a study was conducted with aim to determine the prevalence of over the counter medications in students of pharmacy colleges in eastern Uttar Pradesh and to access patients' perceived safety of these medications. A cross-sectional study was designed; using a self-administered questionnaire for the students' convenience and easy response disclosure. Data were statistically analyzed. A total of N = 800 students participated in this survey. Ease in access to OTC medicine, availability of pharmacist consultation and advertisement in print and electronic media were the main factors disclosed by the respondents that may result in an increase in the use of OTC products. The study revealed that the use of OTC medications was high in the students. Gender, age and educational institution were found significantly affecting the use of OTC medicines. Use of OTC medicines was generally higher among female students (p = 0.001). It was also found that the knowledge about adverse effects and contraindications is very limited.
Indian Research Journal of Pharmacy and Science, 2018
Background: The main aim of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of OTC drugs among urban population as well as which indications OTC drugs are used most of the time. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out over a period of four months (November 2017 to February 2018) in Moga, Punjab, India using a self administered pre-validated questionnaire set which was prepared based on previous studies. Results: Among 100 study participants 90% were males and 10% were females also 98% knew about the OTC drugs. Reason for taking OTC drugs were majority of them was 46% people take it due to their low cost. Analgesics 99% and antipyretics 97% were the most common class of drugs self medicated by the majority of the participants. Fever and headache were mostly reported. A majority of study participants 76% never read the instructions given on the product label and 54% occasionally check the expiry date before using the drug. Large proportion of participants 76% continue the use of drug till it expires even if it shows change in shape, color and odour. Over 76% of the study participants consult to pharmacist and 17% to friends before using OTC drugs. Conclusion: The respondent showed poor knowledge towards self medication. Analgesics and antipyretics were most commonly used drugs. Prevalence was high in males. The drug regulatory authorities should control unsafe self-medication practices.
Predictors of over-the-counter medication: A cross-sectional Indian study
Perspectives in Clinical Research, 2017
The determinants of over-the-counter (OTC) medication need to be understood to design adequate drug information policies. Aim: To determine the prevalence and predictors of OTC medication among the adult population of Berhampur town in Odisha, India. Settings and Design: It was a prospective, cross-sectional, observational study carried out in the private retail pharmacy on a convenience sample of 880 adults over a period of 6 months at Berhampur, Odisha, India. Materials and Methods: Medication use behavior was explored using a data collection form that had three parts. The first part captured data on the sociodemographic characteristics of drug consumers. The second and third part collected data on drug history and attitude toward the available health-care facility, respectively. Statistical Analysis: Descriptive statistics was used to represent the prevalence of OTC medication. Odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to determine the predictors of OTC medication. Results: The overall prevalence of OTC medication use was 18.72% (95% CI: 15.34-47.16%). Younger age, male gender, lower income, and poor lifestyle were the predictors of OTC medication. Perception of poor accessibility to health care, the presence of chronic diseases and having a symptom count of more than two significantly increased the likelihood of OTC medication (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Sociodemographic profile, drug history, and attitude toward health-care availability in the locality can predict OTC medication behavior. Interventions aimed at changing the perceptions of the public regarding accessibility, affordability of the health care is likely to influence OTC medication behavior and make it safer.
Drug prescription and self-medication in India: An exploratory survey
Social Science & Medicine, 1987
This paper reports a study of the prescribing and dispensing of drugs in India. The drugs supplied to 2400 patients by the public and private medical sectors and by private pharmacies (over the counter dispensing) were recorded, and were analysed with respect to the patient's presenting complaint and diagnosis. The main findings discussed in this paper are:
Self-Medication Practices among College Students: A Cross Sectional Study in Gujarat
National Journal of Medical Research, 2013
Introduction: Self-medication is defined as the use of medication for self-treatment without advice of physician either for diagnosis, prescription or surveillance of treatment. Self medication increases the chances of illicit use of drug and drug dependency and most of all masking the sign and symptoms of underlying disease hence are complicating the problem, creating drug resistance and delaying diagnosis. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study done among total 100 3 rd semester engineering students in Vidhyanagar, Gujarat. It is a questionnaire based study and history of self-medication in last 6 months was taken. Results: Prevalence of self-medication among study participants was 88% in last 6 months. Out of total 100 students, 88% were male and 12% were female. Out of total 330 self-medications by study participants in last 6 months, maximum (43.03%) was from pain-relievers. 21.51% of self-medication was from cough remedies. 7.27% of the self-medication was of Antimicrobials. Amoxicilin was most commonly used as self medication by the study participants among antimicrobials. Pharmacy store was the most common source for self-medication. Other common sources were family members, friends and medicines remain during prior illness. Conclusions: It is concluded from this study that self medication is found to be a common practice among the engineering students. Commonly used drugs are pain relievers, cough remedies and topical creams. Self-medication of antimicrobials is also high among study participants. Common source of information for self medication are pharmacist, friends and relatives.
Journal of Gandaki Medical College-Nepal
Background: Self-medication of the over-the-counter (OTC) drug is practice all over the world. Although appropriate self-medication practice can address minor illness and is time and cost-effective, it can promote irrational use of medicine; prolong the illness, drug dependency and abuse. Medical students are the future medical practitioners and play the crucial role in counseling the patients. Therefore, the present study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of self- medication among undergraduate students. Methods: An institution based descriptive, cross sectional study was conducted after ethical approval was taken from the Institutional ethical committee of Gandaki medical college teaching hospital and research center (GMCTHRC) and data was collected from May to July 2018. Descriptive and correlation analysis were done with the data. The results were expressed in percentages. Results: Among 115 respondents, 60.9 % (70) were female and 39.1% (45) were male...
Journal of Young Pharmacists
Objective: To assess the extent, pattern and determinants of non-prescription medicine use in an urban area of eastern India. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey with total 392 subjects was carried out for 3 months by a structured questionnaire to assess the extent, pattern and determinants of non-prescription medicine use amongst the patients at a community retail medicine shop and a pharmacy running in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in a government hospital. Results: Our study found that 61.4% of the consumers indulged in the practice of self-medication. The commonest reason for self medication was a prevailing tendency in the community followed by cost-saving and convenience. The most commonly used medicines were antacids (43.4%) followed by analgesics-antipyretics (42.6%). It was found that only 12.5% completed an ongoing course of antibiotics. Consumption of ORS was commoner in diarrhoea than vomiting and only a few (13%) of the patients dissolved the ORS powder as directed. Only 9.7% of the subjects thought non-prescription medicine use is safe. Regarding the various types of medicine preparations used by them from the two types of pharmacy, a significant difference was noted only for eye drops (p = 0.003). This result might have been obtained due to prevailing ocular infections in the selected study population and underreporting at the Ophthalmology OPD of the nearest hospital. Conclusion: The current study has documented the extent of, factors associated with, and the pattern of non-prescription medicine use resulting in a surge of self-medication practice in urban area.