Self -medication practice among engineering students in an engineering college in North India
Journal Title: The Journal of Phytopharmacology - Year 2013, Vol 2, Issue 4
Abstract
Aims: This study was undertaken to determine the knowledge, attitude & practice of self medication among engineering students of all the years of NIMS Engineering College, Jaipur, Rajasthan. Methods: This study was an anonymous, questionnaire-based, descriptive study. A self-developed, pre-validated questionnaire consisting of both open-ended and close-ended questions was filled by 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th year engineering students. Data was reviewed, organized and summarized as counts and percentages and evaluated using the Chi-square test and p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Out of a total of 346 students, 70.5% were male & 29.4% were females. Their age ranged from 17-27 years. Out of these, 75.7% students had taken self medication with 22.3% being females and 77.86% being males. The commonest indications for self-medication were fever seen in 176(67.1%) of the students followed by, cough/common cold 104(39.69%). 37.4% of the students didn’t feel the need to go to a doctor and this was the most frequent reasons for resorting to self-medication and the main source of self medication was guardians (54.9%). Analgesics were the commonest drugs used (56.5%) followed by antimicrobials (15.6%) with 52% of the students completed the recommended course of antimicrobials. 46.5% students thought that self medication was harmful. Conclusion: The practice of self-medication in our study was common and often inappropriate and this high prevalence is a cause of concern. Education and proper information about the drugs may go a long way in promoting responsible self medication.
Authors and Affiliations
Dr. Rahul Parakh, Dr. Neha Sharma, Dr. Kriti Kothari, Dr. Richa Parakh, Dr. Pradeep Parakh
Antioxidant activity, total phenolic and total flavonoid contents of stem back and root methanolic extracts of Calotropis procera
Calotropis procera it is known for traditional Kenyan medicinal system and it is used for it has previously been employed for treatment various diseases. This study aimed at examining methanolic extract of C. procera t...
A Review on Herbs with Uterotonic Property
The practice of herbalism has become popularized throughout the world. During past decade public interest in natural therapies is increasing both in developing as well as developed countries. Approximately 25 percent of...
Nephrotoxicity effects of Khat (Catha edulis) on mice when administered orally
Renal problems are currently on increase worldwide. Some factors suspected to be the cause of the renal problems are drug abuse. Hence, this study investigated possible renal toxicity effect of Khat in male albino mice...
In vitro immunitary impact and antioxidant activity of aqueous extracts of Maprounea africana Müll (Euphorbiaceae) and Mitragyna stipulosa O.Kze (Rubiaceae)
This study aims to investigate the in vitro immunitary impacts and antioxidant activity of aqueous extracts of Maprounea africana (Euphorbiaceae) leaves and Mitragyna stipulosa (Rubiaceae) stem barks. Impact on leukocy...
Plants used in Bandjoun village (La'Djo) to cure infectious diseases: An ethnopharmacology survey and in-vitro TimeKill Assessment of some of them against Escherichia coli
An ethnopharmacology survey concerning the medicinal plants used in Bandjoun village (La'Djo) to cure infectious diseases was carried out in three districts of this village. The survey led to the identification of 79 m...