Main Article Content
Abstract
The aim of our study was to assess the knowledge of medical students about OTC drugs.
Materials & methods
150 students who are in 2nd year MBBS studying at MVJ Medical College and Research Hospital, Hoskote were given a questionnaire covering about awareness & various aspects on usage of OTC drugs & responses obtained were noted.
Results
120 (80%) students knew that OTC means Non-prescription drugs. Among 150 students, only (54%) used OTC & majority of them have taken treatment from physician in the past 6 months. The frequently reported illness that prompted self-medication included respiratory diseases [cough, cold, sore throat, pharyngitis, tonsillitis etc.] & viral fever. Majority of them obtained OTC by telling the drug name - self decision (64%), telling symptom (11.33%), showing old prescription (8.66%) & 10 (6.66%) students have practiced self-medication by advice from an herbalist / Ayurveda. Most common reasons for self-medication was its less time consuming (43.33%) & previous experience of similar illness (26.66%) which lead to repeated use of self-medication for same problem in (82%) students. Commonly used self-medication was analgesic (97.33%). Gastrointestinal side effects (47.33%) & sedation (39.33%) were more with OTC drugs used. We have found that (51.33%) people share OTC among relatives and friends. About (81.33%) students were aware about precautions to be taken as per instructions & label, whereas (57.33%) students knew about possible drug interactions / contraindications of OTC drugs.
Conclusion
Even though self-medication was not common among our students because most of them were aware about OTC drugs their advantages & disadvantages, it’s inevitable to stop its usage among the public. The intervention will require better education of public and health professionals to avoid the irrational use of drugs.
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References
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[3]. Almalak H, Albluwi AI, Alkhelb DA et al. Students’ attitude toward use of over the counter medicines during exams in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, 22, 2014, 107–112.
[4]. Parikh D, Sattigeri BM, Kumar A, Brahmbhatt S .A survey study on use of over the counter (OTC) drugs among medical students, nursing and clerical staff of a tertiary care teaching rural hospital. Int J Res Med Sci. 1(2), 2013, 83-86
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[6]. Li1 T, Murtaza G, Azhar S. Assessment of the Determinant of Choice of ‘Over the Counter’ Analgesics among Students of a University in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Trop J Pharm Res, 13(10), 2014, 1713.
[7]. Goel D& Gupta S. Self-medication patterns among nursing students in North India. IOSR-JDMS, Nov – Dec 11(4), 2013, 14–17
[8]. Sawhney V, Bhat MY, Singh Z ; A descriptive study of prevalence, pattern and attitude of self-medication among second professional medical students in a tertiary care centre : Int J Basic ClinPharmacol. 4(3), 2015, 542-546.
[9]. Stoelben S, Krappweis J, Rössler G, Kirch W. Adolescents’ drug use and drug knowledge. Eur J Pediatr. 159, 2000, 608–614.
[10]. Bhuvana KB &Patil RT. Perception, Practice, Prevalence & Pattern of self-medication in medical under graduate students in kerala. Int J Biol Med Res. 6(3), 2015, 5109–5113.
[11]. Ali SS, Sharma S, Ahmed T et.al, Evaluation of Self Medication amongst Nursing Students of Bastar Region: A Questionnaire Based Study. IJPR 5(6), 2015, 145-149.
[12]. Joshi DK, Srujana P, Patil BS et.al, Study on Self-medication Practices, among Second year MBBS Undergraduates ; Int. J. Pharma. Phytopharmacol. Res 4(5), 2015, 298-300
[13]. Aithal S, Swetha ES, Rubina A, Kumar C; Self Medication among second year medical students in a Teaching Hospital. Sch J. App. Med. Sci. 2(3C), 2014, 1091-1094.
[14]. Zafar SN, Reema S, Sana W et.al, Self-medication amongst university students of Karachi: Prevalence, knowledge and attitudes. J Pak Med Assoc 58(4), 2008, 214-217.
[15]. Ghosh A, Biswas S, Mondal K et.al, ; A study on knowledge and practices of over the counter medications among 2nd year medical students : World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical sciences 4(7), 2015, 1074-1081
[16]. Gupta V, Bansal P, Manhas R, Singh Z, Ghaiye P. Preferred system of medicine and reasons of self-medication among college students in Malwa region of Punjab. J Drug DelivTher. 1(2), 2011, 27-9.
[17]. Bashir MSM , Bansod KA , Khade A et.al, ; Self-medication – A Comparative study between 2nd and 3rd year medical students : International Journal of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences 3(2), 2013, 1–7.
References
[2]. Saleem MTK, Sankar C, and Dilip C et al. Self-medication with over the counter drugs: A questionnaire based study. Der Pharmacia Lettre, 3(1), 2011, 91-98
[3]. Almalak H, Albluwi AI, Alkhelb DA et al. Students’ attitude toward use of over the counter medicines during exams in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, 22, 2014, 107–112.
[4]. Parikh D, Sattigeri BM, Kumar A, Brahmbhatt S .A survey study on use of over the counter (OTC) drugs among medical students, nursing and clerical staff of a tertiary care teaching rural hospital. Int J Res Med Sci. 1(2), 2013, 83-86
[5]. Gupta VK, Gupta CD, Patel JR. Assessment of Awareness and Attitudes towards Over-the-Counter (OTC) Drugs amongst Urban Population: A Questionnaire Based Study. RJPBCS. April – June 3(2), 2012, 1037-41
[6]. Li1 T, Murtaza G, Azhar S. Assessment of the Determinant of Choice of ‘Over the Counter’ Analgesics among Students of a University in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Trop J Pharm Res, 13(10), 2014, 1713.
[7]. Goel D& Gupta S. Self-medication patterns among nursing students in North India. IOSR-JDMS, Nov – Dec 11(4), 2013, 14–17
[8]. Sawhney V, Bhat MY, Singh Z ; A descriptive study of prevalence, pattern and attitude of self-medication among second professional medical students in a tertiary care centre : Int J Basic ClinPharmacol. 4(3), 2015, 542-546.
[9]. Stoelben S, Krappweis J, Rössler G, Kirch W. Adolescents’ drug use and drug knowledge. Eur J Pediatr. 159, 2000, 608–614.
[10]. Bhuvana KB &Patil RT. Perception, Practice, Prevalence & Pattern of self-medication in medical under graduate students in kerala. Int J Biol Med Res. 6(3), 2015, 5109–5113.
[11]. Ali SS, Sharma S, Ahmed T et.al, Evaluation of Self Medication amongst Nursing Students of Bastar Region: A Questionnaire Based Study. IJPR 5(6), 2015, 145-149.
[12]. Joshi DK, Srujana P, Patil BS et.al, Study on Self-medication Practices, among Second year MBBS Undergraduates ; Int. J. Pharma. Phytopharmacol. Res 4(5), 2015, 298-300
[13]. Aithal S, Swetha ES, Rubina A, Kumar C; Self Medication among second year medical students in a Teaching Hospital. Sch J. App. Med. Sci. 2(3C), 2014, 1091-1094.
[14]. Zafar SN, Reema S, Sana W et.al, Self-medication amongst university students of Karachi: Prevalence, knowledge and attitudes. J Pak Med Assoc 58(4), 2008, 214-217.
[15]. Ghosh A, Biswas S, Mondal K et.al, ; A study on knowledge and practices of over the counter medications among 2nd year medical students : World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical sciences 4(7), 2015, 1074-1081
[16]. Gupta V, Bansal P, Manhas R, Singh Z, Ghaiye P. Preferred system of medicine and reasons of self-medication among college students in Malwa region of Punjab. J Drug DelivTher. 1(2), 2011, 27-9.
[17]. Bashir MSM , Bansod KA , Khade A et.al, ; Self-medication – A Comparative study between 2nd and 3rd year medical students : International Journal of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences 3(2), 2013, 1–7.