A Study on Self-Medication Practice in General Population Visiting to Tertiary Care Teaching Hospitals, Jaipur

Abstract

Background:

Self-medication is defined as the selection and use of medicines by individuals to treat self-recognized or self-diagnosed conditions or symptoms. The meaning of “Self-medication” word is purchasing or taking drugs without prescription. People choosing self-medication because lack of time, lack of health services, high cost of medical consultation, easy availability of drugs.

Method

This study is a single centred study where 96 subjects were observed and studied to assess self-medication practice at the Jaipur National University for Medical Sciences and Research, Jaipur. Statistical calculation was made by Chi-square test and using SPSS statistics V22.0 software.

Result

Self-medication can cause health severity. Self-medication has a positive impact on 33.33% of the population while having a negative impact on 66.67% of the population. Hence most commonly self medication drugs are analgesic (88.54%) and anti-pyretic (87.5%) According to research, that found risk of self-medication practice like incorrect self-diagnosis, incorrect choice of therapy, rare but severe adverse effects, incorrect route of administration, risk of dependence and abuse.

Conclusion

This research focused on the practice of self-medication, its use, its safety, and the reasons for its use. Self-medication has a positive impact on 33.33% of the population while having a negative impact on 66.67% of the population. It is safe if the people who use it have sufficient knowledge of its dose when to take it, and the side effects in case of overdose, but due to lack of information antibiotic resistance, and skin problems It may lead to serious effects such as hypersensitivity and allergies.