Unknown

Dataset Information

0

Pattern of medication selling and self-medication practices: A study from Punjab, Pakistan.


ABSTRACT:

Background

Access to medicines without prescription is a major contributing factor for self-medication practices. This study was designed to examine the ratio of non-prescribed medicines sales and self-medication practices in Punjab, Pakistan. This study also evaluates the reasons for self-medication within its communities.

Methods

An observational study was conducted in 272 systemically selected pharmacies to analyze medicines-related sales, with or without prescription. A cross-sectional survey was performed between June 2015 and November 2016. Consumers were interviewed about their self-medication practices.

Results

Of the pharmacies surveyed, 65.3% participated in the study. A total of 4348 medicines were purchased for self-medication by 3037 consumers (15.2% of all study participants), of which 873 (28.7%) participated in an interview. Majority (81.2%) medicine purchaser, (90.9%) interview participants, and (59.4%) drug users were male. On average, each community pharmacy sold 7.9 medicines without prescription each day, to an average of 5.5 customers. Many participants (28.9%) had matriculation in their formal education. The medicines most often sold for self-medication were analgesics and antipyretics(39.4%). More than 25% of participants reported fever symptoms and 47.8% assumed their illness was too trivial to consult a doctor. Media advertisements were the most common source of information for participants (46.7%).

Conclusion

Many types of medicines were often sold without prescription from community pharmacies. Self-medication was common practice for a wide range of illnesses. Pakistan also needs effective implementation of policies to monitor medication sales. Public education about rational medication and limits to advertising medicine are very necessary.

SUBMITTER: Aziz MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5863987 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

Similar Datasets

| S-EPMC8715623 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC8130310 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC5783150 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC4474799 | biostudies-other
| S-EPMC8516287 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC4263675 | biostudies-other
| S-EPMC7608896 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC10174045 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC7457820 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC7503345 | biostudies-literature