Questionnaire based survey on practicing OTC antimicrobials among 1st and 2nd year medical student of RIMS in Ranchi, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20181465Keywords:
Anti-microbials, Medical students, Over the counterAbstract
Background: OTC (over the counter) drugs are defined as “Drugs available freely on the counter without prescription of a registered medical practitioner The WHO has also pointed out that responsible self-medication can help prevent and treat ailments that do not require medical consultation and provides a cheaper alternative for treating common illnesses. Studies have also found that educated people have a greater tendency to practice self-medication than illiterates. several studies have been carried out in different populations to evaluate the practice of self-medication there is a paucity of studies on self medication of antimicrobials among medical students.
Methods: This was a questionnaire based study of one months duration. A prevalidated questionnaire was distributed to 258 students, to assess practice of otc anti-microbials in 1st (2nd semester) and 2nd (5th semester) year medical undergraduate students of Rajendra Institute of Medical science, Ranchi.
Results: The results of this study showed that out of 258 students 208 (80.6%) students used antimicrobials as OTC. Out of 258 from both the year, 225 students had knowledge about OTC anti-microbials drug. Most common reason for practicing OTC anti-microbials was the minor ailment 86 (41.3%). Again most common indication was diarrhea 69 (33.3%). In this study we observed that the most common source of information regarding OTC anti-microbials were senior students 63 (30.4%) and most commonly used anti-microbials as self-medication were ciprofloxacin 92 (44.3%).
Conclusions: This study highlights the very high prevalence of OTC anti-microbials use among medical students, inappropriate use due to the lack of knowledge. At the higher i.e. policy-making level, there is an urgent need to legislate and enforce laws which can restrict access to the supply of medicines without prescription by pharmacies and strict rules regarding pharmaceutical advertising. Again, there is a need for an impactful public enlightenment campaign to educate the people about the disadvantages and life-threatening complication of Otc anti-microbials. And at last emphasis should be given on rationalized use of anti-microbials.
References
Clardy J, Fischbach MA, Currie CR. The natural history of antibiotics. Curr Biol. 2009;19(11):437-41.
World Health Day. Antibiotic resistance: No action today, no cure tomorrow; 2011. Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2011/whd_20110407/en/index.htm.Accessed 12 July 2016.
World Health Organization. The evolving threat of antimicrobial resistance: options for action. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2012. Available at: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/44812/1/9789241503181_eng.pdf. Accessed November 10,2015.
World Health Organization: Report of the WHO Expert Committee on National Drug Policies; 1995. Available at: http://www.who.int/medicines/library/dap/who-dap-95-9/who-dap95.9.shtml.(last accessed on 09/3/2011)
Klemenc-Ketis Z, Hladnik Z, Kersnik J. Self-medication among healthcare and non-healthcare students at University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. Med Princ Pract. 2010;19(5):395-401.
Kasabe GH, Tiwari SA, Ghongane BB. A survey of knowledge, attitude and practice of self medication in Pune region Int J Med Res Health Sci. 2015;4(4):811-6.
Henry J, Handu SS, Khalid AJ, Khaja ASO, Sequeira RP. Evaluation of the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Self-Medication among First-Year Medical Students. Med Princ Pract. 2006;15:270-5.
Afolabi MO, Macarthy L, Osemene KP. Use of Antimicrobial Medicines among University Students in Sierra Leone. 2014;4(1):101-12.
James H, Handu SS, Khaja KA, Sequeira RP. Influence of medical training on self-medication by students. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2008;46;23-9.
Zafar SN, Syed R, Waqar S, Zubairi AJ, Vaqar T, Shaikh M, Yousaf W, Shahid S, Saleem S. Self-medication amongst University Students of Karachi: Prevalence, Knowledge and Attitudes. J Pak Med Assoc. 2008;58:214-8.
Hem E, Stokke G, Tyssen R, Grønvold NT, Vaglum P, Ekeberg O. Self-prescribing among young Norwegian doctors: A nine-year follow-up study of a nationwide sample. BMC Med. 2005;3:16.
Graciela ET, Castro SA, Oppelt AM, Petrini RM, Pereira IV, Sassi BT. Working conditions and self medication among primary healthcare professionals in an urban area of Pelotas, RS. Rev bras Epidemiol. 2007;10:66-74.
Abay SM, Amelo W. Assessment of Self-Medication Practices Among Medical, Pharmacy, and Health Science Students in Gondar University, Ethiopia. J Young Pharm. 2010;2:306-10.
Pandya RN, Jhaveri KS, Vyas FI, Patel VJ. Prevalence, pattern and perceptions of self-medication. 5 May 2013.
Badiger S, Kundapur R, Jain A, Kumar A, Pattanshetty S, Thakolkaran N, et al. Self-medication patterns among medical students in South India. Australas Med J. 2012;5:217-20.
Jain A, Gupta C. Self –medication in medical students in saifai, Indian Streams Research Journal. Feb 2014;4(1).
Padmanabha TS, Nandini T, Manu G, Savkar MK, Ravi Shankar M. Knowledge, attitude and practices of antibiotic usage among the medical undergraduates of a tertiary care teaching hospital: an observational cross-sectional study Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol. 2016;5(6):2432-7.
James H, Handu SS, Khalid AJ, Khaja A, Otoom S, Sequeira RP. Evaluation of the knowledge, attitude and practice of self medication among first year medical students. Med Princ Pract. 2006;15:270-5.
Hem E, Stokke G, Tyssen R, Gronvold NT, Vaglum P, Ekeberg O. Self-prescribing among young Norwegian doctors: a nine-year follow-up study of a nationwide sample. BMC Med. 2005;3:16.
Olayemi OJ, Olayinka BO, Musa AI. Evaluation of Antibiotic self-medication Pattern Among Undergraduate Students of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Research Journal of Applied Sciences Engineering and Technology. 2010;2(1):35-8.
Ehigiator O, Azodo CC, Ehikhamenor EE. Self-medication with antibiotics among Nigerian dental students. Tanz Dent J. 2010;16(2):48-54.
Fadare JO, Tamuno I. Antibiotic self-medication among university medical undergraduates in Northern Nigeria. J. Pub. Health and Epid. 2011;3(5):217-20.
World Health Organisation. Treatment and prevention of acute diarrhea: Practice Guidelines, Geneva, WHO; 1989.
Bojalil R, Calva J. Antibiotic misuse in diarrhea. A household survey in a Mexican community. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. 1994;47(2):147-15.
Mitema ES. The Role of Unregulated Sale and Dispensing of Antimicrobial Agents on the Development of Antimicrobial Resistance in Developing Countries. editors. Anibal de J Sosa, Denis K. Byarigaba, Carlos F. Amabile-Cuevas, Po-Ren Hsueh, Samual Kariuki and Iruka N. Okeke New York Springer; 2010.
Azevedo MM, Pinheiro C, Yaphe J, Baltazar F. Portuguese students knowledge of antibiotics: a cross-sectional study of secondary school and university students in Braga. BMC Public Health. 2009;9:359.
Steinberg I. Clinical choices of antibiotics: judging judicious use. The Am J Managed Care. 2000;6(23):S 1178-88.
Mäkelä MJ, Puhakka T, Ruuskanen O, Leinonen M, Saikku P, Kimpimäki M, et al. Viruses and bacteria in the etiology of the common cold. J Clin Microbiol. 1998;36(2);539-42.
Donkor ES, Tetteh-Quarcoo PB, Nartey P, Agyeman IO. Self-Medication Practices with Antibiotics among Tertiary Level Students in Accra, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health. 2012;9:3519-29.
Andre M, Vernby A, Berg J, Lundborg CS. A survey of public knowledge and awareness related to antibiotic use and resistance in Sweden. J. Antimicrob. Chemother. 2010;65:1292-6.
Woodhead, M, Finch R. Public education: A progress report. J. Antimicrob. Chemother. 2007;60:53-5.
Wutzke S, Artist M, Kohoe L, Fletcher M, Mackson J, Weekes L. Evaluation of a national programme to reduce inappropriate use of antibiotics for upper respiratory respiratory tract infections: Effects on consumer awareness, beliefs, attitudes and behavior in Australia. Health Promot. Int. 2006;22:53-64.
