Abstract
Introduction
Generally speaking, self-medication is defined as "the use of drugs to treat self-diagnosed disorders or symptoms, or the intermittent or continued use of a prescribed drug for chronic or recurrent disease or symptoms without a valid prescription. Self-medication is a global phenomenon4. Families, friends, neighbours, the pharmacist, previous prescribed drugs, or suggestions from an advertisement in newspapers or popular magazines are common sources of self‑medications. Major problems related to self‑medication are wastage of resources, increased resistance of pathogens and it causes serious health hazards such as adverse reaction and prolonged suffering. Antimicrobial resistance is a current problem world‑wide particularly in developing countries where antibiotics are available without any prescription. In India, it is very common to see self‑medication practice and is an emerging challenge to health care providers.6
References
- Banerjee I, Bhadury T. Self-medication practice among undergraduate medical students in a tertiary care medical college, West Bengal. J Postgrad Med. 2012;58:127–31. [PubMed]
- Kumar N, Kanchan T, Unnikrishnan B, Rekha T, Mithra P, et al. Perceptions and Practices of Self-Medication among Medical Students in Coastal South India. PLoS ONE. 2013;8(8):e72247. [PMC free article] [PubMed]
- Klemenc-Ketis Z, Hladnik Z, Kersnik J. A cross sectional study of sex differences in self- medication practices among university students in Slovenia. Coll Antropol. 2011;35:329–34. [PubMed]
- World Health Organization: Guidelines for the regulatory assessment of Medicinal Products for use in self-medication 2000. Available: http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/pdf/s2218e/s2218e.pdf. [Last accessed on 5 march 2014]
- Saeed MS, Alkhoshaiban AS, Al-Worafi YM, Long CM. Perception of self‑ medication among university students Saudi Arabia. Arch Pharm Pract. 2014; 5(4): 149–152.
- Badiger S, Kundapur R, Jain A, Kumar A, Pattanshetty S, Thakolkaran N, et al. Self-medication patterns among medical students in South India. Australas Med J. 2012;5:217–20. [PMC free article] [PubMed]
- Lukovic JA, Miletic V, Pekmezovic T, Trajkovic G, Ratkovic N, et al. (2016) Self-Medication Practices and Risk Factors for Self-Medication among Medical Students in Belgrade. PLoS ONE 2: 240-253
- Nithin K, Bhaskarn U (2016) Perception and practice of self -medication among medical students in coastal south India. IJEIMS 8: 231-235.
- Mohamed Azhar MI, Gunasekaran K, Kadirvelu A, Gurtu S, Sadasivan S (2015) Self-medication: awareness and attitude among Malaysian urban population. IJCRIMPH 2: 500-560.
- Gyawali S, Shankar PR, Poudel PP, Saha A (2015) Knowledge, attitude and practice of self-medication among basic science undergraduate medical students in a medical school in Western Nepal. J Clin Diagn Res 2: 1-2.
- Geissler PW, Nokes K, Prince RJ, Achieng RO, Aagaard-Hansen J, Ouma JH. Children and medicines: Self treatment of common illnesses among Luoschool children in western Kenya. Soc Sci Med. 2000;50: 1771-1783.
- Hussain S, Malik F, Hameed A, Ahmad S, Riaz H.Exploring health seeking behavior, medicine use andself-medication in rural and urban Pakistan. South MedRev. 2010; 3(2): 32–35.
- Awad A, Eltayeb I, Matowe L, Thalib L. Self-medicationwith Antibiotics and Antimalarials in the Community ofKhartoum State, Sudan. J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2005; 2(8):326–331.
- Afolabi AO. Factors influencing the pattern of selfmedicatioin an adult Nigerian population. Ann Afr Med.2000; 7(3): 120–127.
- World Health Organization. The Role of Pharmacists in Health Care System. [Internet]. 1998. Available from: World Health Organization. 1998. Available from:http://www.apps.who.int/medicinedocs/en/d/Jwhozip32e[last accessed on Apr 25, 2009].
- Banerjee I, Bhadury T. Self-medication practice amongundergraduate medical students in a tertiary caremedical college, West Bengal. J Postgr Med. 2012;58(2): 127–131.
- Meauri G, Temple V, Law F. Prevalence of selfmedicationamong students in Papua New Guinea.Pacific J Med Sci. 2013; 9(1): 17–31.
- Hughes CM, McElnay JC, Fleming GF. Benefits and risksof self-medication. Drug Saf. 2001; 24(14): 1027–1037.
- Ferris DG, Nyirjesy P, Sobel JD, Soper D, Pavleti CA,Litaker MS. Over-the-counter antifungal drug misuse Albasheer et al Trop J Pharm Res, October 2016; 15(10): 2259associated with patient-diagnosed vulvovaginal candidiasis. Obstet Gynecol. 2002; 99: 419–425.
- Calabresi P, Cupini LM. Medication-overuse headache: similarities with drug addiction. Trends Pharmacol Sci.2005; 26(2): 62–68.
- Ruiz ME. Risks of self-medication practices. Curr DrugSaf. 2010; 4(5): 315–323.
- Alghanim SA. Self-medication practice among patients ina public healthcare system. East Mediterr Heal J. 2011;17: 409–416.
- Aljadhey H, Assiri GA, Mahmoud MA, Al-Aqeel S, MurrayM. Self-medication in Central Saudi Arabia: Community pharmacy consumers’ perspectives. Saudi Med J. 2015;36(3): 328–334.
- Ibrahim NK, Alamoudi BM, Baamer WO, Al-Raddadi RM.Self-medication with analgesics among medical students and interns in King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Pak J Med Sci. 2015; 31(1): 14-18.
- Gutema GB, Gadisa DA, Kidanemariam ZA, Berhe DF,Berhe AH, Hadera MG, Hailu GS, Abrha NG. Selfmedication practices among health sciences students:the case of Mekelle University. J Appl Pharma Sci.2011; 1(10): 183–189.
- Shankar PR, Partha P, Shenoy N. Self-medication and non-doctor prescription practices in Pokhara valley, Western Nepal: A questionnaire-based study. BMC Fam Pract. 2002;3:17. [PMC free article] [PubMed]
- Montastruc JL, Bagheri H, Geraud T, Lapeyre Mestre M: Pharmacovigilance of self-medication. Therapie. 1997, 52 (2): 105-110
- Samuel SS, Prakasam KC, Nandhakumar N. Assessment of self medication among patients attending community pharmacises in Erode, India. Int J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2011;3:258–62
- You JH, Wong FY, Chan FW, Wong EL, Yeoh EK. Public perception on the role of community pharmacists in self-medication and self-care in Hong Kong. BMC Clin Pharmacol. 2011;11:19
- Ahmad A, Patel I, Mohanta GP, Balkrishnan R. Evaluation of Self Medication Practices in Rural Area of Town Sahaswan at Northern India. Ann Med Health Sci Res. 2014;4(2):73–8
- Figueiras A, Caamaño F, Gestal-Otero JJ. Sociodemographic factors related to self-medication in Spain. Eur J Epidemiol. 2000;16:19–26
- Prevalence of self-medication practices and its associated factors in rural Beng aluru, Karnataka, India ,Saba HI et al. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2016 Jun;3(6):1481-1486
- Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Self Medication among Medical Students; Mehta etal p-ISSN: 2320–1940 Volume 4, Issue 1 Ver. I (Jan.-Feb. 2015), PP 89-96.
Corresponding Author
Dr Gagan Gunjan
M.D. Gen. Medicine, S.R, AIIMS, Patna, India
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v6i12.47
