A PROSPECTIVE STUDY ON PATIENTS USING SELF DRUGS IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITALS

DR.J. KAMARAJ; DR.S.DHARMALINGAM; DR .T. RAVIKUMAR; DR.A. MURUGANATHAN; DR.P. SARAVANAN; DR.S.SOPNAJOTHII

Volume : VII, Issue : V, May - 2018

A PROSPECTIVE STUDY ON PATIENTS USING SELF DRUGS IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITALS

Dr. J. Kamaraj, Dr. S. Dharmalingam, Dr . T. Ravikumar, Dr. A. Muruganathan, Dr. P. Saravanan, Dr. S. Sopnajothii

Abstract :

Objectives: The objective was to assess the self–medication patterns and drug use behaviour in patients attending medical op in a tertiary care hospitalsin Tamil Nadu ,South India,

Materials and Methods: A detailed questionnaire designed to assess the self–medication patterns and drug use behaviour and interview technique was used to elicit the requisite information. Five hundred patients were studied,

Results: Most of the patients were in the habit of keeping the medicines (88%)though only 66% of them were in the habit of using it without any prescription.

Also it was seen that those patients who were taking self–medication were better educated than those not indulged in self–medication.

Suggestions from friends, advertisement on the television, and newspapers. For most of them the reasons for self–medication were financial restraints and lack of time to go to the medical practitioner.

Conclusions; The results emphasize the need for comprehensive measures for intervention strategies to promote rational drug therapy by improving prescribing patterns and influencing self–medication.