Evaluation of Self-medication Practice along with Prescribed Medicines among the Local Population of Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

The main theme of the study was to evaluate the usage of medicine other than their use. This is actually a problem, which was observed worldwide. It is direct associated with the patients that were using medicine to cure themselves from minor ailment without discussing with any health care professional as selection of proper medicine for any disease is the prime responsibility of health care providers. The significance of the research was to evaluate the self-medication pattern over the prescribed medicines among the local population of Karachi. So the descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted for the period of six months and participants were guided for the completion of questionnaire. Specified sample technique was used for the proper selection of participants. The average age of participants was 38.5±11.8 with minimum age of 16 and 53 was the maximum age of participant of the study. The frequent habit was taking medicines was observed mostly with age group of 24 to 36 years and mostly arts related person and businessman were taking self medication without knowing any accurate knowledge of medicines. From the prescribed medicines Steroids, antibiotics and Cetrizine were very common taken by the participants. Females participants were taking more medicines for minor ailments as compare to males. Education level and marital status were most common factors that prejudiced the risk factors awareness along with self medication among the participants. Frequency of self-medication with or without prescription was very common among the females than males. Females were using oral corticosteroids and cyprohepadine without any therapeutic need. Professional life along with marital status was considered as main pillar for the attentiveness of significant side effects associated with mal practice of taking medicine without any medical advice.