title: Self-medication Practice Amongst Patients Visiting a Tertiary-care Dental Hospital in Central India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess self-medication practice-related awareness for correct usage and its association with demographic factors among patients reporting to a dental college.
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among 300 patients reporting to the People's College of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, Bhopal, India. Only patients ≥ 18 years of age were included and consenting participants anonymously completed the questionnaire, with incomplete questionnaires being excluded from the study. The semi-structured questionnaire containing both open- and closedended questions was prepared in the local language and included demographic data, name of self-medication, frequency of self-medication, periods of illness, duration, dose, frequency of drug administration, symptoms for which drugs were used, satisfaction with healthcare facilities, source of information for self-medication, presence of chronic illness, adverse effects to self-medication seen in patients and drug interactions. The unpaired t-test and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. p-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant association was seen between education and self-medication. It was observed that the subjects who fell ill more frequently consumed medications on their own more often. Medications were most commonly taken for cough, cold and fever. The most preferred medicine was paracetamol. Most of the subjects found the medicines effective in helping them relieve their symptoms. However, not even half of the subjects were aware of the dose, duration, side-effects or interactions of medicines. There was a significant association between knowledge about side-effects and side-effects experienced from medication. A significant association was also seen between knowledge about side-effects and frequency of self-medication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-medication and non-doctor prescribing are relatively common in Bhopal. Knowledge regarding the appropriate usage of medication is inadequate. Education to help patients decide on the appropriateness of selfmedication is required.
authors: Garima
authors: G
authors: Bhambhani
authors: Vrinda
authors: V
authors: Saxena
authors: Ajay
authors: A
authors: Bhambal
authors: Sudhanshu
authors: S
authors: Saxena
authors: Poonam
authors: P
authors: Pandya
authors: Sonal
authors: S
authors: Kothari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003139:Common Cold / Q000188:drug therapy; D003371:Cough / Q000188:drug therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012651:Self Medication / Q000379:methods*; D012923:Social Class; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004366:Nonprescription Drugs