A Cross Sectional Study on Perception of Self-medication Practice among General Population - A Questionnaire Based Survey

Abstract

Self-medication is defined as the use of medications to treat self-diagnosed disorders or symptoms, or the intermittent or ongoing use of a prescribed substance for chronic or recurrent diseases or symptoms. Despite its many advantages, self-medication increases the risk of drug abuse and addiction. It also obscures the signs and symptoms of underlying disorders, aggravating the situation, causing treatment resistance, and delaying diagnosis. The aim of this study is to investigate the perception of self-medication practices among general population and to assess the pattern, influencing factors and commonly preferred drug for self-medication. A crosssectional study was conducted online among general population. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using Microsoft excel. Descriptive statistical methods, frequencies, mean, standard deviations and percentages were used to summarize the data. A total of 504 respondents participated in the study. Fever 361 (72%) headache 318(63.6%), and cough and cold 311(62.2%) were the most common symptoms for which self-medication was practiced. Analgesics and antipyretics were the most common group of drugs opted for self-medication by the respondents. Convenient and easy to buy (21.8%) followed by low cost (20.2%) and previous experience of treating a similar illness (15.6%) were found to be the purpose of self-practicing of medication. Self-medication is a common practice among general population. The study results revealed that, the safety aspects among the general population were found to be good. The attitude on self-medication practice depends on their knowledge which was found to be good and the practice was fair enough towards self-medication.