Prevalence of self-medication practices 

Self-medication is an important concern for health authorities at global level. This study was aimed to find the prevalence of self-medication for allopathic drugs and associated factors among households of urban community. This study was also aimed at assessing the attitude of respondents who had experienced self-medication.

Every day, we are practicing self-medication in the form of self-care of our health.  Around the 1960's in the West-self-care and self-medication were regarded as unnecessary and potentially even unhealthy practices. This paternalistic approach to medicine, supported by health systems designed to treat sickness (rather than to prevent disease) remains a familiar aspect of health care in many countries to this day.

Self-medication has traditionally been defined as “the taking of drugs, herbs or home remedies on one's own initiative, or on the advice of another person, without consulting a doctor.]

Families, friends, neighbors, the pharmacist, previous prescribed drug, or suggestions from an advertisement in newspapers or popular magazines are common sources of self-medications. Now-a-days, self-medication should be seen as the “desire and ability of people/patients to play an intelligent, independent and informed role, not merely in terms of decision-making but also in the management of those preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic activities which concern them.

Materials and Methods:

This cross-sectional study was done in field practice area attached to a medical institution in urban Puducherry. A total of 352 subjects from 124 households were selected by random sampling. With pretested interview schedule, information regarding self-medication use in the past three months and associated sociodemographic factors, purpose, source of drug procurement, attitude toward self-medication use were collected.

Potential benefits

• An active role in his or her own health care
• Self-reliance in preventing or relieving minor symptoms or conditions
• Education opportunities on specific health issues (i.e. stop smoking aids and products to treat heartburn)
• Convenience
• Economy, particularly since medical consultations will be reduced or avoided

Potential risks

• Incorrect self-diagnosis
• Failure to seek appropriate medical advice promptly
• Incorrect choice of therapy
• Failure to recognize special pharmacological risks
• Rare but severe adverse effects
• Failure to recognize or self-diagnosis contraindications, interactions, warnings and precautions

Regards,
Nancy Ella
Dual Diagnosis: Open Access
Email: dualdiagnosis@emedsci.com
WhatsApp no: +1-947-333-4405

Prevalence of self-medication practices 

Self-medication is an important concern for health authorities at global level. This study was aimed to find the prevalence of self-medication for allopathic drugs and associated factors among households of urban community. This study was also aimed at assessing the attitude of respondents who had experienced self-medication.

Every day, we are practicing self-medication in the form of self-care of our health.  Around the 1960's in the West-self-care and self-medication were regarded as unnecessary and potentially even unhealthy practices. This paternalistic approach to medicine, supported by health systems designed to treat sickness (rather than to prevent disease) remains a familiar aspect of health care in many countries to this day.

Self-medication has traditionally been defined as “the taking of drugs, herbs or home remedies on one's own initiative, or on the advice of another person, without consulting a doctor.]

Families, friends, neighbors, the pharmacist, previous prescribed drug, or suggestions from an advertisement in newspapers or popular magazines are common sources of self-medications. Now-a-days, self-medication should be seen as the “desire and ability of people/patients to play an intelligent, independent and informed role, not merely in terms of decision-making but also in the management of those preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic activities which concern them.

Materials and Methods:

This cross-sectional study was done in field practice area attached to a medical institution in urban Puducherry. A total of 352 subjects from 124 households were selected by random sampling. With pretested interview schedule, information regarding self-medication use in the past three months and associated sociodemographic factors, purpose, source of drug procurement, attitude toward self-medication use were collected.

Potential benefits

• An active role in his or her own health care
• Self-reliance in preventing or relieving minor symptoms or conditions
• Education opportunities on specific health issues (i.e. stop smoking aids and products to treat heartburn)
• Convenience
• Economy, particularly since medical consultations will be reduced or avoided

Potential risks

• Incorrect self-diagnosis
• Failure to seek appropriate medical advice promptly
• Incorrect choice of therapy
• Failure to recognize special pharmacological risks
• Rare but severe adverse effects
• Failure to recognize or self-diagnosis contraindications, interactions, warnings and precautions

Regards,
Nancy Ella
Dual Diagnosis: Open Access
Email: dualdiagnosis@emedsci.com
WhatsApp no: +1-947-333-4405