Study of self medication practices and its determinant among college students of Delhi University North Campus, New Delhi, India

Abstract

Background: Self-medication includes acquiring medicines without a prescription, resubmitting old prescriptions to purchase medicines, sharing medicines with relatives or members of one's social circle or using leftover medicines stored at home. In developing countries like India, self-medication is a common practice as it provides a low cost alternative for people. Especially, the youth is exposed to media and the increased advertising of pharmaceuticals poses a larger threat to the younger population. Aims & Objective: To determine the prevalence of self-medication among Delhi University students and to identify the sources and reasons for self-medication. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out using a 'semi structured' 'pretested' questionnaire among 350 students selected randomly from north campus of Delhi University during August and September 2012. Results: The prevalence of self-medication was 85.4% among the study population. Principal morbidities for seeking self-medication were headache (86.2%) and common cold (57.8%). 79.3% of them got the medicine from chemist shop and 16.9% used home available medicines. 56.1% of the study subjects were aware about side effects of drugs they were using. Awareness about schedule H-drugs was also present in 39.5% of the study population. Regarding the major reasons for seeking self-medication, 31.0% did not find it necessary to consult a doctor followed by 25.0% who preferred to wait and watch, 21.3% had lack of time and 10.4% felt doctor's fee was too high. Conclusion: Prevalence of self-medication was high in the study population despite majority being aware of its harmful effects. There is an urgent need to enforce the law to prevent over the counter drug sale and to educate the youth to ensure safe practices.

A study of self medication among the adult people of the Nanded city, western India

“…12,14 In contrast to this finding Stephen et al (59.5%), Chari et al (51.4%) and Kaushal et al (49.0%) stated that previous doctor's prescription were the most common sources of self medication. 10,11,15 Maximum study subjects (45%) stated that they practice self medication because of high consultation fee of doctors which was the same observation by Kulkarni et al, Adhikary et al and Shankar et al 7,8,12 A study conducted in rural Maharashtra by Phalke VD et al found that the major reason for self medication were economic (58.5%) and non availability of health care facility (29.3%). 16 Other common reasons for self medication were why to consult doctors for minor illness, lack of time, easy availability of OTC drugs etc.…”

“…4 Various studies showed that people take self medication in such clinical conditions in varying proportions. 7,8,[11][12][13] In our study most commonly purchased drug categories were analgesic drugs (27%), followed by antipyretic drugs (20.6%), antihistaminic and antiallergic (12%) whereas least commonly purchased were anti-diarrhoeals (2.3%), haematinics and vitamin preparations (2.0%). Most of the studies showed that analgesics and antipyretics, antihistamines, antibiotics, antacids, antidiarrhoeals and antispasmodic, antifungal cream etc.…”

“…Adhikary et al and Malvi et al found that 93.6% and 77% subjects checked expiry date of OTC drugs respectively. 4,12 In contrast to this Kulkarni et al studied self medication practices among urban slum dwellers in Hyderabad, India and found that only 4.2% subjects checked expiry date of OTC drugs. 7 The WHO considers self-medication as part of the selfcare that helps efficient use of the burdened health care system with guidelines for the regulatory assessment of medicinal products for use in self-medication.…”

“…were commonly used for self medication. 4,9,10,12,14 Loharkar et al and Stephen et al found that even sedative drugs were used for self medication which comes under schedule H and cannot be purchased over the counter without the prescription of a qualified doctor. 11,13 We observed pharmacists (48.7%) as the most common source of information about OTC drugs.…”

Pattern and practice of self medication in students of health professional university in North India

“…1 Self medication includes acquiring medicines without a prescription, resubmitting old prescriptions to purchase medicines, sharing medicines with relatives or members of one's social circle or using leftover medicines stored at home. 2 It also includes the use of medication for family members, especially where treatment of children or elderly is involved. 3 In developing countries like India, self-medication is a common practice because of high cost of clinical services and easy alternatives available like drug retail shops which can be first point of contact for the patient population.…”