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Cited by 136Pharmacy and Medical PracticesAntibiotic Use and ResistanceHealth, Technology, Consumer Behavior

Evaluation of self medication practices in rural area of town Sahaswan at Northern India

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Ahmad, A, Patel, I, Mohanta, GP, Balkrishnan, R·2014·Annals of Medical and Health Sciences Research
DOI 10.4103/2141-9248.138012PMC PMC4145522
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Many of the studies have investigated the prevalence and nature of self-medication. It is a common type of self-care behavior among the populace of various countries. World Health Organization promotes the practice of self-medication for effective and quick relief of symptoms without medical consultations to reduce the burden on health-care services, which are often understaffed and inaccessible in rural and remote areas. AIM: The aim of the study was to determine the extent and pattern of self-medication among the population (patients) attending pharmacies at study sites and to note the association of self-medication variables with demographic factors. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The present study was a community based cross sectional study aimed to gather information about the prevalence of self-medication in the rural town of Sahaswan, Uttar Pradesh from June 2012 to July 2012. The sample size comprised of 600 respondents. Data were collected through a prepared questionnaire. All descriptive data were coded, entered and analyzed using the statistical package for Social sciences program version 17.0 (Chicago, IL, USA). Descriptive data analysis was conducted and reported as frequencies and percentage. RESULTS: The percentage of patients who were seeking self-medication was approximately 50% (300/600). Most of the patients were seeking self-medication for headache and other pain (23.3% [140/600]), fever (14.5% [87/600]), urinary tract infections (9.7% [58/600]) and respiratory tract infections (11.7% [70/600]). The drugs most commonly purchased for practicing self-medication were non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (25.3% [152/600]), medications used for gastro intestinal problems (20.8% [125/600]) and antibiotics (16.7% [100/600]). CONCLUSION: Prevalence of self-medication was high primarily among illiterate males aged above 15 years with a low income. Patient health awareness programs, assistance by community pharmacists and pharmacist continuing education are necessary for controlling self-medication. There is a need for planning interventions to promote rational self-medication through mass medias such as newspaper, magazine and TV.

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  • Antihistamines are frequently self-medicated for cold and cough symptoms.

    “Moreover, antihistamines are frequently self-medicated for cold and cough symptoms.41,42”

    From Prevalence and patterns of self-medication practices in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis (2025) · cites this paper as [41]

    The Results report that antihistamines were used for self-medication by 115 of 600 respondents and that cough and cold were reasons for self-medication for 49 of 600. They do not link antihistamine use specifically to cough and cold symptoms; the figures are reported separately. No page number is available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [12]You JH Wong FY Chan FW Wong EL Yeoh EK Public perception on the role of community pharmacists in self-medication and self-care in Hong Kong BMC Clin Pharmacol 2011 11 19 22118309 PMC3252282
  2. [18]Bronzwaer SL Cars O Buchholz U Mölstad S Goettsch W Veldhuijzen IK A European study on the relationship between antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance Emerg Infect Dis 2002 8 278 82 11927025 PMC2732471

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Authors
Ahmad, A., Patel, I., Mohanta, G., & Balkrishnan, R.
Affiliations
  • Annamalai University (IN)
  • University of Michigan (US)
Corresponding author
Ahmad, A
ORCID
Venue
Annals of Medical and Health Sciences Research
Publisher
Medknow
Published
2014
Volume
4
Issue
8
Pages
73
ISSN
2141-9248 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.4103/2141-9248.138012
PMC
PMC4145522
OpenAlex
W2146957194
Cited by
134
References
16
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 6
FWCI
10.72
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc-sa
Locations
  • Annals of Medical and Health Sciences Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmacology › Pharmacy and Medical Practices
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology › Antibiotic Use and Resistance
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Health Information Management › Health, Technology, Consumer Behavior
Keywords
self-medication, rural population, pharmacy patients, prevalence, headache, fever, urinary tract infection, respiratory infections, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, gastrointestinal problems, demographic factors, health awareness, community pharmacists, rational drug use

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