Status and Pattern of Self-Medication Practices Among Residents of Urban Area of Rohtak: A Cross-Sectional Study

Aman sachdeva; Ramesh Verma; Ginni Agrawal; Kanika Bansal; Gopal Kumar; Pratibha

Volume : IX, Issue : VI, June - 2020

Status and Pattern of Self-Medication Practices Among Residents of Urban Area of Rohtak: A Cross-Sectional Study

Aman Sachdeva, Ramesh Verma, Ginni Agrawal, Kanika Bansal, Gopal Kumar, Pratibha

Abstract :

Introduction: As per WHO, �self-medication is the selection and use of medicines by individuals to treat self-recognized illnesses and symptoms�. This includes acquiring medicines without a prescription, resubmitting old prescriptions to purchase medicines, sh� medicines with family, friends or using left over medicines of previous illnesses. Self-medication may lead to serious adverse drug reactions and emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Aim and objectives: To study the practice of self-medication among residents of urban Rohtak, Haryana. Material and method: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in urban field practice area attached to the department of community medicine, Pt. B.D. Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak. 100 study subjects were selected using simple random sampling. The data was collected using a pre-tested, semi-structured interview schedule, entered in MS Excel and analysed using SPSS. Results: Out of 100 study subjects, 68 were practicing self-medication. Out of those practising self-medication, 63 (92.6%) were using allopathic system of medicine. Analgesics were the most common category of drug used. Headache was the most common condition for which self-medication was practiced. Conclusion: prevalence of self-medication was very high and awareness should be created regarding the adverse effects of self-medication.