scholarly journals An epidemiological study on the prevalence of self-medication practises: a serious threat for the population in the Muvattupuzha region in Kerala, India

1970 ◽  
pp. 28-33
Author(s):  
Jeeva Joseph, Sandramol Shaji, Jude James, Anitta Merlin, Bharat Mishra

This study is an investigation on Self medication, defined as the ‘use of a product without medical prescription or consultation in order to prevent or treat a disease or a symptom or to promote health'. The main issues in self-medication are improper usage of resources, OTC abuse, pathogen resistance and potential side effects with prolonged suffering in many of the cases. A prospective, cross -sectional questionnaire based study was carried out among 450 people selected by random sampling in the Muvattupuzha, Kerala, region. The main objectives of this study were to find out the reason and type of illness for which people self-medicate, prevalence of self-medication during pregnancy, self-medication with antibiotics and pharmacist’s approach while dispensing the OTC drugs. In the study, it was clear that a majority of the population self-medicate which includes the prescription drugs and even antibiotics. Self-medication is a serious public health concern; the remedy is to provide health education and which is the responsibility of all the pharmacists.

F1000Research ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 1392
Author(s):  
Akram Hernández-Vásquez ◽  
Christoper A. Alarcon-Ruiz ◽  
Deysi Díaz-Seijas ◽  
Luisa Magallanes-Quevedo ◽  
Diego Rosselli

Background: Low availability of medicines in health services, self-medication, inadequate use of medicines, and inadequate dispensing practices in pharmacies are frequent problems in Peru. We aimed to evaluate how frequent the purchase of medications without medical prescription is in Peru, and which factors are associated with this practice. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of the 2016 ENSUSALUD national survey data. Purchase of medicines that require a prescription was measured as a dichotomous coded as bought one or more medicines that requires medical prescription or bought medicines that do not require a prescription. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated using Poisson regressions model with robust variance to assess the association of purchasing of medicines that require prescriptions with sociodemographic factors. Results: There were 3858 participants in the dataset. The prevalence of purchasing medications without prescriptions was 47.2%. History of having previously consumed the same medication (31.6%), and the delay in receiving an appointment at health facilities (26.9%) were the main reasons to buy medications without a prescription. Regarding the recommendation of the medication purchased, the advice of the pharmacy, and remembering a previous old prescription, were the most frequent reasons (38.3%, and 25.9%, respectively). On the multivariable analysis, users that buy medications without prescription were more likely to be of aged 24-45; reside in the Amazon and Highlands regions; and self-consumption of the purchase. Individuals with Seguro Integral de Salud (Comprehensive Health Insurance) were less likely to buy medications without prescription. Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of prescription requiring medication being bought without one from pharmacies in Peru. It is necessary to include the evaluation of consumer patterns to develop strategies with the aim to regulate the consumption of prescription drugs in the Peruvian population.


2022 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Humayun Kabir ◽  
Md. Kamrul Hasan ◽  
Mamunur Rahman ◽  
Shimpi Akter ◽  
Golam Ishraque Chowdhury ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Mucormycosis, a severe fungal infection, is an emerging public health concern during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the perception of mucormycosis among Bangladeshi healthcare workers. Results An exploratory cross-sectional study was carried out among the Bangladeshi healthcare workers from May 25, 2021, to June 5, 2021. The study found 422 responses from the healthcare workers of Bangladesh. Among the respondents, nearly half of them (45.26%) were doctors (n = 191). This study explored that the healthcare workers’ mucormycosis perception scores were significantly associated with their age, gender, profession, monthly income, marital status, job type, and death of friends and family members due to COVID-19. Conclusions This study emphasized the healthcare workers’ mucormycosis perception along with other associated factors. The findings could help policymakers to mitigate mucormycosis and related infectious diseases emergencies in the post-COVID-19 situation.


Author(s):  
Amar Fathi Mohamed Khalifa ◽  
Yasser Nabil AlKhudairy ◽  
Adel Ahmed Algahtani ◽  
Bandar Mohammed Abduljabbar ◽  
Fahad Majed Aldawsari ◽  
...  

Background: Over-the-counter-drugs (OTC) are drugs that can be obtained by patients without a prescription from a physician. In Saudi Arabia, it has been reported that more than half of university students practiced self-medication and used OTC drugs. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study, among medical and non-medical students in Riyadh. The sample size was 421, by systemic random sampling. A pre-coded pre-tested online questionnaire was used. Data was analyzed using SPSS V 23. P-value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Results: There was no significant relationship between what the participants were majoring in and the usage of OTC drugs (p value= 0.373). Gender also had no relation with the use of OTC (p value= 0.168). Panadol appeared as the most commonly used OTC drug 62.9% for the relief of the most commonly mentioned factor which is headache 50.12%.  Conclusion: Medical education didn’t have much of an effect on the use of OTC drugs. Moreover, professional guidance or advice was not considered most of the time for taking OTC, but the majority of respondents portrayed good behavior towards usage of OTC.


Author(s):  
Megha Sood ◽  
Jagminder Kaur Bajaj ◽  
Nipunjot Grewal

Background: In our country there is easy availability of drugs over the counter leading to their unintentional misuse and abuse. Over the counter availability of drugs does offer the benefit of easy access to medicines and allows individuals to become in charge of their own health. It is important to understand that medical education can impact the OTC drug use amongst medical students. In order to observe the pattern of OTC drug use among the first and second professional MBBS students we planned this study. The aim of the study was to evaluate use of over the counter (OTC) drugs among medical students in a tertiary care teaching hospital.Methods: Our study was a cross sectional study conducted on first and second professional MBBS students. Authors administered a self structured, prevalidated questionnaire to the students. The data obtained was tabulated, analyzed and the results calculated in percentages.Results: The use of OTC drugs is common amongst undergraduate students.  All (100%) the students who participated in the study had used OTC drugs at some point in their life. The common conditions prompting use of OTC drugs include head ache, body aches (74%), fever (72%), respiratory conditions such as: cold (60%), cough (28.5%), abdominal symptoms such as: abdominal pain (14%), gastritis (7.5%), diarrhea (6%), vomiting (5%) and allergies (10%). Very few students reported adverse drug reactions with these drugs.Conclusions: From our study we have concluded that OTC drugs are commonly used amongst medical students. So, periodic training and talks on self medication are necessary for them. Student knowledge in this aspect will help them in future counseling of their patients.


F1000Research ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 303
Author(s):  
Vong Pisey ◽  
Pannee Banchonhattakit

Background: Diarrhea is still the leading cause of childhood death worldwide, as well as a major cause for concern in developing countries. This study was conducted to investigate the factors related to childhood diarrhea in Cambodia. Methods: A cross-sectional study of the secondary data from the Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey 2014 was conducted using the combination of household data and children’s data. A generalized linear mixed model was used to analyze the determinant factors of childhood diarrhea. Results: The surveys included 2,828 children, aged 12 to 35 months. The prevalence of diarrhea in the last 2 weeks was 16.44% (95% CI: 14.72%-18.31%). Factors with statistically significant associations with childhood diarrhea in Cambodia were: maternal  unemployment, compared with being in employment (AOR = 1.43; 95% CI: 1.14-1.78); the child being male (AOR = 1.25; 95%CI: 1.02-1.53); the presence of unimproved toilet facilities (AOR = 1.17; 95%CI: 1.05-1.31) compared with improved toilet facilities; and unhygienic disposal of children’s stools (AOR = 1.32; 95%CI: 1.06-1.64) compared with hygienic disposal of children’s stools when controlling for other covariates. Both maternal age (one year older; AOR = 0.85; 95%CI: 0.78– 0.93) and child age (one month older; AOR = 0.86; 95%CI: 0.78-0.94) had significant negative associations with the occurrence of childhood diarrhea. Conclusion: Childhood diarrhea remains a public health concern in Cambodia. The probability of diarrhea occurring is shown to be increased by maternal unemployment, the sex of the child being male, lack of provision of improved toilet facilities, and the unhygienic disposal of children’s stools; whereas increasing maternal age and child’s age were associated with a reduced chance of diarrhea occurring. On the basis of these results, we recommend provision of programs focusing on reducing diarrhea through the construction of improved toilet facilities and the promotion of behavior to improve hygiene, specifically targeting younger mothers.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 26674.1-26674.5
Author(s):  
Maryam Zaare Nahandi ◽  
◽  
Sayna Abbaszadeh ◽  
Mostafa Mansouri ◽  
Haniyeh Elahifard ◽  
...  

Background: Tramadol is a widely prescribed analgesic and due to its opioid-like effects, the potential for abuse of tramadol is noticeable. Besides, the complications of tramadol abuse have become a public health concern. This study aimed to investigate the affecting factors on the seizure, as one of the most common complications of tramadol consumption. Methods: A total number of 64 patients from 315 patients who were referred to Sina Hospital, Tabriz, Iran because of tramadol toxicity were included in this 9 months cross-sectional retrospective study. Results: There were 52 males and 12 females in the study. The seizure happened in 53.1% of the subjects and the Mean±SD time between tramadol consumption and seizure was 5.9±7.36 hours. There was no significant association between seizure and sex, age, the dose of tramadol, and previous tramadol consumption history. A significant association was seen between the dose of tramadol and the time of seizure. Conclusion: Seizure that happens due to tramadol overdose is not dependent on sex, age, and previous history of tramadol consumption. As the dose of tramadol is higher, the seizure happens later. More research is needed to understand why the seizure occurs later in higher doses.


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 41-43
Author(s):  
Bikash Karki ◽  
Kiran Nakarmi ◽  
Mangal Gharti Magar ◽  
Krishna Nagarkoti ◽  
Shankar Man Rai

Background: There can be multiple hand problems with which patients can present. Such hand problems can be because of any kind of trauma, birth defects, tumours, infection or other conditions. Hand surgery is a special field of plastic surgery, which deals with these hand problems. The Department of Burns, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery of Kirtipur Hospital run by Public Health Concern Trust-Nepal has been providing hand surgery service to the patients with these hand problems.Aim of Study: To analyse the various types of surgical hand problems in patients attending Kirtipur Hospital.Material and Methods: It is a cross sectional retrospective  observational study of the patients with different hand problems done at the Department of Burns, Plastic & Reconstructive surgery of Kirtipur Hospital from January to December 2016.Results: There were 124 patients who presented with various hand problems. There was male preponderance and the most common age group affected was between 15-60 years. Hand trauma was the most common cause of hand problems followed by post burn contractures.Conclusion: Hand is a complicated organ which can give rise to various problems. Hand surgery is an essential component of reconstructive surgery to deal with these problems. JNGMC,  Vol. 14 No. 2 December 2016, Page: 41-43


2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 431-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracy Perron ◽  
Jane Clark ◽  
Katie Liberi ◽  
Jillian Moran ◽  
Rachel Zanetti

Author(s):  
Pyae Sone Win ◽  
Thida Win ◽  
Pa Pa Soe

Background: Self-medication with antibiotics becomes a public health concern in both developed and developing countries. It is a risk factor for antibiotic resistance, one of the biggest threats to global health, food security, and development today. The prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics varies across the countries, and such studies are still limited in Myanmar. Therefore, we aimed at describing the prevalence of and the factors facilitating self-medication with antibiotics in Myanmar.Methods: This cross-sectional study included face-to-face interviewing of 360 youths randomly selected from 6 townships of Mandalay city, Myanmar.Results: In this study, 36.67% of the youths self-medicated with antibiotics in the six months before the survey. The most common antibiotic used for self-medication was amoxicillin (70.94%). Runny nose (35.61%), cough (26.52%), and fever (25.76%) were the most typical symptoms for which antibiotics were taken. The main factor facilitating self-medication with antibiotics was easy accessibility (86.36%).  One-third of youths selected antibiotics based on the advice of drugstore’s sellers. Most of the youths bought antibiotics at nearby drugstores. About two-thirds of youths stopped taking antibiotics after taking them one or two days, regardless of the outcome.Conclusions: The prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics was high among Myanmar youths. Law enforcement and regulations for inappropriate use of antibiotics is an urgent need to alleviate the consequences of self-medication with antibiotics. Awareness-raising and educational program targeting both drugstore owners and the public through various channels is necessary to reduce the inappropriate use of antibiotics.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Cuschieri ◽  
Julian Mamo

Abstract Background Depression is a chronic non communicable disease. It is a growing public health concern with established links with a number of co-morbidities, including diabetes mellitus. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of depression at a population level, establish the depression sub-population phenotypic characteristics while exploring for links between depression and a spectrum of glycemic abnormalities. Methods A nationally representative cross-sectional study was conducted in Malta between 2014 and 2016. Participants were categorized into different sub-populations according to their glycaemic status. Depression prevalence rates and phenotypic characteristics for each sub-population were established. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify links with depression. Results Depression was prevalent in 17.15% (CI 95%: 16.01 – 18.36) with a female predominance. Those with known (as opposed to newly diagnosed) diabetes had the highest depression prevalence when compared to other glycemic sub-groups. These also exhibited a significant link with self-reported depression. However, at a population level, depression was mostly prevalent within the normoglycaemic sub-population. Conclusions The study confirms the strong link between diabetes and depression, especially, in a high risk dysglycaemic population. Of public health concern is the high depression occurrence within the normoglycaemic sub-population, which attributed for the majority of the Maltese population. In order to reduce the impact of mental health on the population, physicians may consider implementing depression screening clinical tools as part of their routine health check-ups at primary care level, irrespective of the glycaemic status of their patients.


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