MEDICATION STORAGE AND SELF MEDICATION PRACTICE AMONG THE YOUTH IN KARNATAKA REGION, INDIA

Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence, approach and behavior towards medication storage & self-medication practice amongst the youth in Karnataka, India.

Methodology: A pre-cross sectional survey was conducted, administering a pre-piloted questionnaire among the target population. Sample size of 150 was analyzed using the percentage method.

Results: Out of 150 respondents, 84.62% were found to store medications in their rooms. The prevalence of self-medication was 88.6%. The most common reasons for self-medication were: respondents’ knowledge about the illness & its treatment (47.06%), the time saving factor (44.12%), and prescriber’s ineffective medications (8.82%). Commonly stored medications included analgesics/anti-pyretic (28.07%) and anti-infectives (17.54%). Others included were ENT drugs (14%), Gastrointestinal (GIT) drugs (14%), skin products (6%), Vitamins (8%), ayurvedic medicines (10%), while remaining were categorized as miscellaneous (15.33%). Other considered parameters include: awareness about proper use & expiry dates, and storage & disposal condition. It was concluded that medication storage and self medication were highly prevalent among students.

Discussion: There is an immediate need to educate people regarding the safe use of drugs. Strict regulatory policies need to be implemented on unrestricted availability of the drugs to ensure safety.