A Study of Self Medication Practices among the People in Ernakulam District, Kerala, India Krishnaveni K1,*, Sundaram R Shanmuga2, R Sambath Kumar3, Sumitha SK4, Johny Teena4, Jose Rosmi4 1Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice, J.K.K. Nattraja College of Pharmacy, Komarapalayam, Namakkal District, Tamilnadu, India 2Department of Pharmacology, J.K.K. Nattraja College of Pharmacy, Komarapalayam, Tamilnadu, India 3Department of Pharmaceutics, J.K.K. Nattraja College of Pharmacy, Komarapalayam, Tamilnadu, India 4Department of Pharmacy Practice, J.K.K. Nattraja College of Pharmacy, Komarapalayam, Tamilnadu, India *Corresponding Author E-mail: venidhiya@gmail.com
Online published on 12 June, 2018. Abstract Objective The purpose of the study was to assess the self-medication practices among the Ernakulam people in Kerala, India. Methods A prospective observational study was conducted at 3 community pharmacies at Ernakulam in Kerala. The study included 327 people visiting the pharmacy for purchasing drugs without prescriptions over a period of 3 months beginning from October to December 2016. Results Out of 327 members, we found that percentage of male purchasing OTC drugs was 70.95% and the percentage of female was 29.05%. Our data shows that people in the age group of 20–30 years (43.42%) were taking more OTC drug than 30–40 years (26.60%), 40–50 years (19.88%) and remaining 10.1% in 50–60 years of age. Unemployed people 174(53.30%) were using more OTC drugs than self-employee 98(29.96%) and government employee 55(16.84%). Quick relief 185(56.57%) was the main reason for self-medication than high consultant fee 98(29.97%) and lack of time 44(13.46%). The sources of self-medication was found to be doctor's previous prescriptions 185(56.57%), pharmacist 119(36.39%), TV/Radio 11(3.34%) and books 12(3.70%). The most commonly used category of self-medicationwas analgesics/antipyretics 174(53.22%) of which fever 131(40.08%) was the main indication for the use of OTC drugs followed by antitussive 130(39.75%) and laxative 23(7.03%). Conclusion From our study, we concluded that self-medication was very common among 20–30 years age group of male people in Ernakulam. Quick relief is the main reason for self-medication. The survey high lights the urgent need of public education about specific risk or side effects of self-medication. Top Keywords Self-medication, OTC drugs, Analgesics, Ernakulam. Top |