Knowledge and practice on over-the-counter drugs among adults of age group 20 and above residing in Chapapani-12, Pokhara, Kaski, Nepal

Abstract

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> The incidence of usage of over-the-counter drugs is drastically increasing day by day. Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are medicines sold directly to consumer without a prescription from health care personnel. In many countries, OTC drugs are selected by a regulatory agency to ensure that they are safe and effective when used without physician’s care. Taking OTC medicines still has risk. Some interact with other medicines, supplements, food and drinks and some causes problem for people with certain medical conditions.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> A descriptive cross sectional was conducted from 1st February - 15th August 2016 among 110 among adults of age group 20 and above residing in Chapapani-12, Pokhara. A pre-tested structured questionnaire were used and data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) for windows version 18.0. Frequency, percentage, chi-square and correlation were performed. </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Nearly 1/3<sup>rd</sup> of the respondents (33.6%) were of age group 20-29 years and more than half (60.9%) were female. More than half of the respondents (54%) had good knowledge and less than half (47%) had good practice of OTC. There was significant association of knowledge with age, marital status, education and monthly family income. There was significant association of practice with education of respondents. There was weak positive correlation between knowledge and practice (r =0.211).</p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> This showed that the knowledge hadn’t been fully practiced into action by the community people and still they are lacking the concept of over-the-counter drugs and its safe use in daily living.

Self medication practices of over the counter analgesic drugs among medical students in a tertiary care hospital in Jharkhand, India

“…2,6,11,14 One study done in Pokhara, Nepal showed that the most common reason for self medication was -it is time saving (45.5%). 1 This data is very low in our study (6.21%). In Mahmood et al, Study the most common reason for self medication was quick relief as seen in 40% of study population.…”

“…20 In Nepal also about 82.7% adults of age group 20 and above residing in Chapapani -12, Pokhara were using Paracetamol as OTC Analgesics. 1 Among Saudi population 73.4% used Paracetamol and 13.1% used ibuprufen 12 whereas in present study diclofenac sodium was the second most commonly used analgesic. Paracetamol is one of the most commonly used non-narcotic analgesic-antipyretic agent used with negligible anti inflammatory action.…”

“…Self medication is a widely used practice which is increasing day by day. 1 If any person uses drugs in self diagnosed diseases without the advice of a doctor it is called self medication. Since the patient doesn't requires the advice of any doctor so it is an important part of self care.…”

Comparative study to determine self-medication practice and pattern in urban and rural areas of Etawah district

“…This study was conducted among 200 participants in urban and 200 in rural area. This study revealed that in urban and rural area most of the participants are males [15][16][17] In the present study most of the participants in urban area belonged to nuclear family (51.0%) and rest are belonged to joint (26.5%) and three generation family (22.5%) while in rural area half of the participants belonged to joint family and those belonging to nuclear family were (40.0%) and three generation family (10%) respectively. On the other hand study conducted by Dutta et al in Chennai, Tamil Nadu reported that 62.5% participants were belong to nuclear family and rest are belong to third generation and joint family.…”

A study on knowledge and practices of over the counter medications among 1st year medical students

“…There are currently more than 300000 different OTC drugs available only in US. 1,2 There is no regulation for the use of OTC drugs in India. The poor economic status and busy lifestyle of an individual makes him rely on the OTC drugs.…”