Evaluation of knowledge, attitude and practices of second year MBBS students about over the counter drugs
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20241654Keywords:
Over-the-counter drugs, Self-medication, Medical studentsAbstract
Background: The utilization of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs among medical students during academic exams has raised concerns about health risks and potential implications. This cross-sectional study aimed to estimate the prevalence of OTC drug utilization among medical students.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using pre-validated questionnaire. The data obtained was tabulated, analysed and the results were calculated in percentages.150 students had participated in this study of which 100 were selected by simple random sampling.
Results: The use of OTC drugs was common amongst undergraduate students. Majority of students (92%) who participated in the study had used OTC drugs at some point in their life. Commonly used OTCs were antacids (73%) and the most common indications for use of OTCs was cough and cold (92%). 87% of students preferred OTC drugs due to ease and convenience while 44% preferred OTC drugs due to lack of time to consult the doctor. Doctors (32.3%) followed by family and friends; textbook/journals were found to be the most common source of information on OTC drugs.
Conclusions: A tendency to choose self-medication over doctor’s consultation by most of the undergraduate medical students was consistently seen in the present study. This unrestrained use of OTC drugs certainly possesses several health risks. Awareness should be created among undergraduate medical students to restrict the use of OTC drugs and efforts should be undertaken to increase the sale of drugs without prescription.
Metrics
References
US Food and Drug Administration. Drug Application for Over the Counter Drugs. 2012. Available at: htpp://Fda.gov/drugs. Accessed on 06 March 2024.
Chan V, Tran H. Purchasing over‐the‐counter medicines from Australian pharmacy: what do the pharmacy customers value and expect? Pharm Prac. 2016;14:782.
Simundic AM, Filipi P, Vrtaric A, Miler M, Nikolac Gabaj N, Kocsis A, et al. Patient's knowledge and awareness about the effect of the over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and dietary supplements on laboratory test results: a survey in 18 European countries. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2018;57(2):183-94.
Patel PD, Patel KP, Malhotra SD. Survey of use of over the counter drug and other than over the counter drugs among medical students, nursing, and technician staff of a tertiary care teaching hospital. Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol. 2017;6(3):592-6.
Moumani B, Tahaineh L, Albsoul-Younes A. Parents' Knowledge, Perception and Practices of Over the Counter Medicines Used for Their Children. Jordan J Pharm Sci. 2011;108(399):1-8.
Nagaraj M, Chakraborty A, Srinivas B. A Study on the Dispensing Pattern of Over the Counter Drugs in Retail Pharmacies in Sarjapur Area, East Bangalore. J Clin Diagnost Res. 2015;9(6):FC11-3.
Parikh D, Sattigeri BM, Kumar A, Brahmbhatt S. A survey study on use of over the counter (OTC) drugs among medical students, nursing, and clerical staff of a tertiary care teaching rural hospital. Int J Res Med Sci. 2013;1(2):83-6.
Waghmode RI, Jagtap RP, Todkar RR, Ghongane BB. Evaluation of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Second Year MBBS Students, Interns and Pharmacists about ‘Over the Counter (OTC) Drugs’. J Med Sci Clin Res. 2018;6:1273-7.
Venkataraman G, Gangadharappa SK, Jacob J, Bhaskar N, Kulkarni SB, Gupta A. Assessment of self-medication practice among students of a dental college of Bangalore city: A cross-sectional study. J Indian Assoc Public Health Dent. 2017;15:73-7.
Gupta VK, Gupta CD, Patel JR. Assessment of Awareness and Attitudes towards Over the Counter (OTC) Drugs amongst Urban Population: A Questionnaire Based Study. Res J Pharm Biol Chem Sci. 2012;3(2):1037-41.
Patel PD, Patel KP, Malhotra SD. Survey of use of over the counter drug and other than over the counter drugs among medical students, nursing and technician staff of a tertiary care teaching hospital. Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol. 2017;6(3):592-6.
Gupta S, Singh M. Self-medication among North Indian first-year undergraduate healthcare students: A questionnaire-based study. Trop J Med Res. 2016;19:162-7.
Puranik A, Totade S. Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of 2nd Year MBBS students on Over the counter drugs. Int J Curr Res. 2018;10(02):65062-5.
Abay SM, Amelo W. Assessment of Self-medication practices among medical, pharmacy, health science students in Gondar University, Ethiopia. J Young Pharmacists. 2010;2(3):306-10.
Subramanian S, Satyanarayana V, Bhandare B. A study on knowledge and practices of over the counter medications among 2nd year medical students. Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol. 2015;4(7):1074‐81.
Sawhney V, Bhat MY, Singh Z. A descriptive study of prevalence, pattern, and attitude of self-medication among second professional medical students in a tertiary care centre. Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol. 2015;4(3):542-6.
Rekha MS. A study in the use of over the counter drugs among 1st year medical students in a tertiary care teaching hospital. J Pharmacol Toxicol Stud. 2015;3(1):20-4.
Sood M, Bajaj JK, Grewal N. Evaluate use of over the counter drugs among medical students in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol. 2019;8(5):973-6.
Oviya VJ, Lakshmi T. A Study on Knowledge and Practices of Over the Counter (OTC) Medications Among 2nd Year Dental Students. Int J Curr Adv Res. 2017;06(04):3057-9.