Pattern of medication selling and self-medication practices: A study from Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

BackgroundAccess to medicines without prescription is a major contributing factor for self-medication practices. This study was designed to examine the ratio of non-prescribed medicines sales and self-medication practices in Punjab, Pakistan. This study also evaluates the reasons for self-medication within its communities.MethodsAn observational study was conducted in 272 systemically selected pharmacies to analyze medicines-related sales, with or without prescription. A cross-sectional survey was performed between June 2015 and November 2016. Consumers were interviewed about their self-medication practices.ResultsOf the pharmacies surveyed, 65.3% participated in the study. A total of 4348 medicines were purchased for self-medication by 3037 consumers (15.2% of all study participants), of which 873 (28.7%) participated in an interview. Majority (81.2%) medicine purchaser, (90.9%) interview participants, and (59.4%) drug users were male. On average, each community pharmacy sold 7.9 medicines without prescription each day, to an average of 5.5 customers. Many participants (28.9%) had matriculation in their formal education. The medicines most often sold for self-medication were analgesics and antipyretics(39.4%). More than 25% of participants reported fever symptoms and 47.8% assumed their illness was too trivial to consult a doctor. Media advertisements were the most common source of information for participants (46.7%).ConclusionMany types of medicines were often sold without prescription from community pharmacies. Self-medication was common practice for a wide range of illnesses. Pakistan also needs effective implementation of policies to monitor medication sales. Public education about rational medication and limits to advertising medicine are very necessary.

Comparing the Frequency of Self-Medication Among Physical Therapy Students of Major Private Colleges of Karachi, Pakistan

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Knowledge, Attitude and associated factors towards self-medication among health professionals at University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital: Institution-based cross-sectional study

“…Self-medication is the selection and use of drugs and drug products by any person to treat selfrecognized or self-diagnosed conditions without proper diagnosis by physicians (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7). it is a common practice of the health care system (7).…”

“…Self-medication drugs and drug products are called 'nonprescription' or 'over the counter' (OTC) which are available in the pharmacy without a prescription ordered by physicians or any other licensed prescribers (8). This includes purchasing medicine without a prescription, sharing medicine with relatives or members of the family (7,9). Currently more drugs and drug products has been changed from prescription-only medications to over the counter (pharmacy sell without prescription) medications (2) Self-medication can have bene ts and hazards and the the reasonable use of self-medication can save limited medical resources from being wasted on minor conditions, reduce the load of health facilities and decrease costs as well as the time spent to visit health care facilities for minor disease conditions (10).…”

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