MEDICATION STORAGE AND SELF MEDICATION PRACTICE AMONG THE YOUTH IN KARNATAKA REGION, INDIA
AbstractAim: 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.
Article Information
63
2795-2800
465KB
1154
English
IJPSR
Abhishek Sharma*, Ankush Madaan and Anantha Naik Nagappa
Professor, Department of Pharmacy Management, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal-576 104, Karnataka, India
anantha1232000@gmail.com
24 April, 2012
14 May, 2012
21 July, 2012
http://dx.doi.org/10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.3(8).2795-00
01 August, 2012