Self-medication practices with conventional and herbal drugs among ear, nose, and throat patients

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the self-practices with conventional and herbal drug use among ear, nose, and throat outpatients. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey-based study was carried out among all ear, nose, and throat outpatients on their first visit to the otorhinolaryngology department at a tertiary care hospital. The survey comprised a total of 14 questions with 4 different sections, including demographic characteristics, self-medication of conventional medicines, herbal medication usage, and perception regarding herbal medicines. RESULTS: Overall, 255 questionnaires were distributed among patients, of which 183 completed the questionnaire (response rate=71.7%). Respondents reported self-medication (44.8%) with conventional drugs before visiting a hospital. The most commonly used medicine was analgesics (31.7%) and antibiotics (21.9%). Nearly half of the patients (49.2%) used at least one herbal drug. The most commonly used herbal medications were Tilia cordata (78.8%), Zingiber officinale (62.2%), and Camellia sinensis (45.5%). According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, most of the medicinal herbs were considered as data deficient/least concern. About 36.6% of the participants perceived that herbal drugs are effective for ear, nose, and throat problems. Moreover, 22.9% of the patients did not know about herbal-drug interaction with other medications. CONCLUSIONS: This study observed a considerable prevalence of self-based practices with conventional and herbal medications. Strict national regulations on conventional and herbal medication access and long-term actions should be implemented to discourage inappropriate drug use.

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“…Furthermore, smartphones are pivotal in telemedicine applications, facilitating tasks such as hearing loss screening and voice analysis. Three-dimensional printing technology is revolutionizing personalized patient care by enabling the fabrication of intraoperative implants, surgical guides, and anatomical models for training purposes [ 39 ]. This innovative technology enhances surgical precision and contributes to residency training in procedures such as peritonsillar abscess drainage and mastoidectomy [ 39 ].…”

“…Three-dimensional printing technology is revolutionizing personalized patient care by enabling the fabrication of intraoperative implants, surgical guides, and anatomical models for training purposes [ 39 ]. This innovative technology enhances surgical precision and contributes to residency training in procedures such as peritonsillar abscess drainage and mastoidectomy [ 39 ]. Emerging technologies and potential future diagnostics are shown in Figure 2 .…”

Data mining and experimental approaches to identify combination of natural herbs against bacterial infections

“…There are thousands of known herbs consist of various bioactive compounds [27][28][29][30]. But if we were to test for example 5,000 herbs and only make combinations of 2, then we have 12,497,500 combinations.…”

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“…Medicinal plant preparations offer a compelling opportunity, providing beneficial health effects, treating ailments, and boosting immunity through their potent antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties. However, research has indicated that self-administration of herbal products can result in exceeding optimal doses, leading to severe complications [21][22][23][24][25][26]. Therefore, the highly effective herb product development that addresses these concerns by providing controlled intake and release of biomolecules, increasing bioavailability, and minimizing toxicity is paramount.…”