title: Trends in self-medication for dental conditions among patients attending oral health outreach programs in coastal Karnataka, India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence, pattern, and awareness of self-medication practices among patients presenting at oral health outreach programs in coastal Karnataka, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cross-sectional study, based on an interview conducted in randomly selected 400 study subjects from the patients presenting at these oral health outreach programs. Data were collected regarding demographic information and the interview schedule consisting of 14 questions was administered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of self-medication was 30%. Respondents' gender (χ(2) = 5.095, P < 0.05), occupation (χ(2) = 10.215, P < 0.05), the time from the last dental visit (χ(2) = 8.108, P < 0.05), recommendation of drug(s) to family members or friends (χ(2) = 75.565, P < 0.001), and the likelihood of self-medication in the next 6 months (χ(2) = 80.999, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with self-medication. Male respondents were less likely to have undertaken self-medication (odds ratio = 0.581 [0.361, 0.933]). The frequently self-medicated drug was analgesics (42.5%) for toothache (69.2%). The regression model explained 39.4% (Nagelkerke R(2)) of the variance in self-medication practices.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of self-medication was 30% with demographic influence. Hence, this study highlights the policy implications for drug control by government agencies and stresses on the need for dental health education to discourage irrational drug use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Vivekanandha Dental College for Women, Elayampalayam, Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Arun K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Ashwini
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Gururaghavendran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rajesh
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Ramya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shenoy
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Mithun B H
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Pai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012651:Self Medication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014098:Toothache / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics
keywords: Dentists; drug resistance; oral health; self-medication