Determinants of Increasing Trend of Self-Medication in a Pakistani Community

• DOI: 10.4314/tjpr.v13i3.19
• Publication Date: 2014-05-27T13:12:25Z
• Authors: H Khan; S Maheen; GA Alamgeer; A Mahmood; RM Sarfraz; Z Ashraf; M Khalil; MNH Malik
• Keywords: Self-medication; Over-the-counter; Cross-sectional study

Purpose: To determine the major reasons, sources, diseases and drugs responsible for increasing trend of self-medication.Method: A community-based cross-sectional survey was carried out in district Faisalabad Pakistan. Respondents (1488) were classified on basis age, sex, education, lifestyle their economical level. questionnaire distributed among sample population to collect data.Results: Majority respondents involved self-medication aged between 15 20 years. Family members (N = 717, 48 %) considered source information self-medicated drugs. Lack time 504, 37 while economic issues 485, 33 reasons self-medication. Medical stores drug purchase by 1087 (73 respondents. Headache 772, 52 fever 600, 40 main indications 694 reported that they engage single-dose Paracetamol 689, 46 %), other analgesics 488, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory 680, be used frequently self-medication.Conclusion: Self-medication is prevalent Pakistani community due easy access over counter (OTC) prescription-only medicines (POM). This may lead untoward effects consumers products. Special interventions relevant regulatory agencies regarding sale are therefore required.Keywords: Self-medication, OTC drugs, Pharmacist.