ANALYSIS OF SELF MEDICATION PRACTICES
A DESCRIPTIVE CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29309/TPMJ/2016.23.05.1592Keywords:
Analysis, Self-Medication, Minor ailments, Over-the-counter, Cross sectional, Descriptive StudyAbstract
Background: Worldwide practice of self-medication is increasing and due to lack
of awareness emphasis is put on counseling of general public. Aim: To assess the practices of
self-medication among general public. Design: Descriptive cross sectional study. Place and
duration of study: Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi from February 2015 to September
2015. Methods: Two hundred and fifty five attendants accompanying patients in general OPD
of Fauji Foundation Hospital completed a self-administered questionnaire translated in urdu
language for this study. Results: Out of 255 study participants, 168 (or 65.9%) practiced selfmedication.
The prevalence was found highest among 25 to 38 years old (70.2%) and was
almost equally distributed in males 65 (65.65%) and females 103 (66.02%). The main reasons
for self-medication were lack of time (43.45%), and high doctor fee (35.71%).Factors influencing
this practice were age, employment, income and the education level. Conclusions: The study
revealed that prevalence of self-medication was high among study population. Majority of
respondents practiced self-medication for minor ailments and to get quick relief, or to avoid
high doctor fee. Pharmacies are a big source of providing drugs for self-medication. There
is need for healthcare professionals to educate the general public about the hazards of
inappropriate medicine use, and there should be restrictions on over-the-counter sale of drugs
without doctor’s prescription.
