scholarly journals Role of a Pharmacist in the Safe Self-medication – A Questionnaire-based Survey

Author(s):  
Selma Škrbo ◽  
Semir Mehović ◽  
Naida Omerović ◽  
Anela Hadžifejzović Trnka ◽  
Nermina Žiga Smajić ◽  
...  

Aims: This study aimed to investigate whether the place of the survey makes a significant impact on the responses regarding the process of self-medication, as well as the present pharmacists’ engagement in this process in the Sarajevo Canton. Study Design: An anonymous questionnaire-based survey. Place and Duration of Study: One public pharmacy and various public places in the Sarajevo Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina, for five months, February–June 2019. Methodology: A total of 312 respondents was included. The first group (165 respondents) was surveyed in the pharmacy after buying an over-the-counter (OTC) drug, and the second group (147 respondents) was surveyed outside the pharmacy. Results: Pharmacists instructed 65% of respondents (72.73% in the first group and 57.14% in the second group) on how to take the purchased OTC drug and checked whether 55% of respondents (70.91% in the first group and 38.1% in the second group) bought an appropriate drug for their health problem. Only 25% of respondents (36.36% in the first group and 12.24% in the second group) was informed about the adverse effects, whereas 29% of respondents (41.82% in the first group and 14.97% in the second group) was informed about the potential contraindications or interactions of the purchased OTC drug. The statistical analysis showed a significant relationship between the responses to the questions and the place of the survey about providing information on the adverse effects (P = .03), comorbidities (P = .049), and general information about the purchased OTC drug (P = .04). Conclusion: In the Sarajevo Canton, pharmacists should be more actively involved in the process of self-medication and provide the necessary advice to patients consuming OTC drugs. Further research is needed so general conclusions could be drawn.

Pharmacy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 132
Author(s):  
Lezley-Anne Hanna ◽  
Alana Murphy ◽  
Maurice Hall ◽  
Rebecca Craig

Background: The aim was to investigate pharmacy students’ views on the role of the pharmacist in facilitating self-care with over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, particularly in light of new roles, and establish personal practice. Methods: Final year pharmacy students at Queen’s University Belfast were invited to participate. Data were collected via a pre-piloted questionnaire, distributed at a compulsory class (only non-identifiable data were requested). Descriptive statistics were performed, and non-parametric tests were employed for inferential statistical analysis (responses by gender). Results: The response rate was 87.6% (78/89); 34.6% (27/78) males and 65.4% (51/78) females. Over a third [34.6% (27/78)] reported using OTC medicines about once a month. All appreciated the importance of an evidence-based approach to optimize patient care. Most [(96.2% (75/78)] deemed OTC consultations should remain a fundamental responsibility of pharmacists and 69.2% (54/78) thought OTC consultations have the potential to be as complex as independent pharmacist prescribing. Females felt more confident recommending OTC emergency contraception than males (p = 0.002 for levonorgestrel and p = 0.011 for ulipristal acetate). Many [61.5% (48/78)] considered more medicines should not be deregulated from prescription-only status. Conclusions: Data from this single institution suggests that enabling self-medication is an important part of practice but there were confidence issues around deregulations.


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.


2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 135
Author(s):  
Claudiana Aguilar Gonçalves ◽  
Cleide Avilar Gonçalves ◽  
Valdeir Areia dos Santos Areia Dos Santos ◽  
Leandro Sarturi ◽  
André Tomaz Terra Júnior

As intoxicações medicamentosas esta se tornando um problema alarmante de saúde publica segundo publicado pelo Sistema Nacional de Informações Tóxico-Farmacológicas (SINITOX) Os medicamentos ocupam o primeiro lugar nas intoxicações no Brasil. O propósito do presente artigo tem como objetivo realizar uma revisão bibliográfica dos casos de intoxicações medicamentosas envolvendo todas faixas etárias e as causas determinantes. Fazendo necessária destacar o papel do Profissional farmacêutico, para dispensarão orientação alem de prestar Assistência farmacêutica quanto ao uso racional de medicamentos em todos os aspectos da farmacoterapia. ABSTRACT: Drug intoxications are becoming an alarming public health problem as published by the National Toxic-Pharmacological Information System (SINITOX). Medicines are the number one poisoning in Brazil. The purpose of this article is to carry out a bibliographical review of the cases of drug intoxications involving all age groups and the determining causes. Making it necessary to highlight the role of the pharmaceutical professional, for dispensing guidance as well as providing pharmaceutical assistance regarding the rational use of drugs in all aspects of pharmacotherapy. This study is a review of the literature covering drug intoxications, indiscriminate drug use and self-medication. The main causes of this problem are the abusive use of the drug due to lack of knowledge about its dosage and administration, prescription errors and self-medication.


Author(s):  
Pamayyagari Kalpana

Self-medication is a wide spread behavior, particularly among elderly patients. Self-medication involves not only the consumption of over-the-counter products but also the re-use of formerly prescribed drugs without medical supervision. This practice may lead to severe adverse health events. Here we report a case of old female, presented with cushingoid face and hyperglycemia due to self-medication of high dose Prednisolone for longer duration. Symptomatic treatment was given to stabilize the patient. Patient was warned regarding the adverse effects of drugs and strictly advised to use medication only under medical supervision.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-159
Author(s):  
Bindu Malla ◽  
Deepti KC

Background: Self-medication of the over-the-counter (OTC) drug is practice all over the world. Although appropriate self-medication practice can address minor illness and is time and cost-effective, it can promote irrational use of medicine; prolong the illness, drug dependency and abuse. Medical students are the future medical practitioners and play the crucial role in counseling the patients. Therefore, the present study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of self- medication among undergraduate students. Methods: An institution based descriptive, cross sectional study was conducted after ethical approval was taken from the Institutional ethical committee of Gandaki medical college teaching hospital and research center (GMCTHRC) and data was collected from May to July 2018. Descriptive and correlation analysis were done with the data. The results were expressed in percentages. Results: Among 115 respondents, 60.9 % (70) were female and 39.1% (45) were male students. Majority of respondents (94.8%) believed that instruction on the label of the drugs should be followed and 78.3% respondents agreed that OTC drugs could interact with other prescribed drugs. However, only 53.9% respondents knew that OTC drugs were Group Ga drugs in Nepal. Despite good knowledge and attitude only 37.4% students had good practice in the rational use of the OTC drugs. Moreover, Antipyretic and analgesic drugs were the most commonly used drugs. However, only 36.84% respondents (p<0.05) knew about the correct dose and duration to take the drugs. Conclusions: We concluded that first year medical and dental should be motivated to use their knowledge into practice.


Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 123
Author(s):  
Patrycja Oleszkiewicz ◽  
Jerzy Krysinski ◽  
Urszula Religioni ◽  
Piotr Merks

Non-pharmacy trade concerns the sale of medicinal products outside of pharmacies, such as limited-service pharmacies, supermarkets, petrol stations, shops open to the public, and kiosks. Access to medicinal products via non-pharmacy outlets varies across the European countries, with a general deregulation of this market area observable. Increasing the availability of medicines by allowing patients to obtain them outside of pharmacies contributes to the spread of self-medication. The aim of this article was to review the legal regulations enabling the non-pharmacy trade in OTC (over the counter) medicinal products in European countries, with particular emphasis on the analysis of active substances contained in medicines available in the non-pharmacy trade. This analysis has made it possible to distinguish three categories of countries: (1) where there is a non-pharmacy trade in OTC medicinal products, (2) where there is a limited non-pharmacy trade in OTC medicines, (3) where there is only a pharmacy trade in OTC medicinal products. In the context of these considerations, we highlight the impact of patient access to medicinal products via non-pharmacy sources on raising the prevalence of self-medication. This article identifies the advantages and risks of self-medication, emphasising the role of the pharmacist as an advisor to patients within the scope of the therapies used.


Author(s):  
Subha Sankar Chattopadhyay ◽  
Angana Datta ◽  
Aritra Ghosh ◽  
Suvadip Biswas ◽  
Krishnendu Mandal ◽  
...  

Background: Use of over the counter (OTC) drug is very much common in India. Not only medical professionals or educated urban population but also it is common in rural area and low educated person. This study was done to assess the extent of knowledge and practices of OTC drugs among OPD patients of a tertiary care hospital.Methods: A questionnaire based study was conducted among 1680 Medicine OPD (outpatient department) patients.Results: Among the participants, 62% patients taking OTC drugs at least once in their life. Most common symptoms for self-medication were fever (89%), cough and cold (78%), headache (67%), pain (53%), diarrhea (10%), vomiting (10%), indigestion (20%). Antipyretics (65%), analgesics (35%) among NSAIDs which were common used as OTC drugs. Others drugs were antacids (50%), cough and cold preparations (50%), Vitamins (30%), antiemetics (5%).Conclusions: Awareness is necessary to use drugs rationally with proper prescription and know about harmful effects of OTC drugs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 402-407
Author(s):  
Tatiyana V. Sokolova ◽  
Alеxandr P. Malyarchuk ◽  
Viktor V. Gladko ◽  
Ksenia V. Montes Rosel

BACKGROUND: Mycoses of the feet is a significant interdisciplinary health problem. AIM: To analyze and systematize the causes contributing to the high incidence of foot mycoses in Russia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: With the use of an anonymous questionnaire survey, the attitude of patients toward their health and the opinions of dermatologists and related specialists about the causes contributing to the high incidence of foot mycoses in the Russian population were analyzed. RESULTS: The reasons contributing to the high incidence of foot mycoses in Russia are ranked into four groups: (1) depend on the activities of the dermatological service; (2) are related to the level of professional training of doctors of related specialties; (3) objective organizational reasons for doctors of related specialties; (4) depend on the patients attitude to their health. CONCLUSION: The data obtained can be used to develop a complex of therapeutic and prophylactic measures to improve medical care for this contingent of patients.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mihailovic Natasa ◽  
Snezana Radovanovic ◽  
Dragan Vasiljevic ◽  
Sanja Kocic ◽  
Mihajlo Jakovljevic

Background:The analysis of socio-demographic factors on the use of over-the-counter drugs for self-medication and over the counter drugs such as vitamins and minerals for boosting the immune system.Objective:The objective is to look into socio-demographic factors of the interviewees who use Over-the-Counter drugs.Methods:Data obtained through the results of the National health survey of the Republic of Serbia 2013. Dependent variable was transformed such a way that vitamins and herbal medicaments for strengthening the body were merged into one group preparations for boosting the immune system and drugs for self-treatment into the group preparations for self-medication.Results:The interviewees more often use OTC for boosting the immune system rather that OTC for self-medication. Women and highly educated people use OTC preparations more often. Unemployed people coming from rural areas use OTC preparations less often. People who have primary education buy OTC products for boosting the immune system significantly more often in comparison to highly educated people (OR = 3.95), but they use OTC drugs for self-medication less frequently (OR = 0.25). The poorest interviewees buy OTC drugs for self-medication twice times less often than the rich, respectively, but they buy OTC vitamins and other immunoregulators 1.4 times more often than the rich, respectively.Conclusion:Highly educated, rich and people coming from developed regions very often buy OTC drugs for self-medication, while poor, less educated people coming from undeveloped regions more often buy OTC preparations for boosting the immune system.


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