SELF MEDICATION: RISKS, BENEFITS, THE ROLE OF PHARMACIST AND SURVEY ON PRACTICE OF SELF MEDICATION WITH ANTIBIOTICS

Background: Development of drug resistance caused by self-medication with antibiotics can be seen as one of the growing global threats. Self-medication is defined as the selection and use of medicines by individuals to treat self-recognized illnesses or symptoms. The purpose of this study is to assess the practice of self-medication with antibiotics and associated factors among the Pharmacy background persons and non-pharmacy graduate persons. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess prevalence and comparative practices of pharmacy students and other graduates in Amravati, Maharashtra regarding self-medication with antibiotics. Methods: Survey questionnaire was used to collect data from pharmacy college students, staff (consider as Group A) and who have knowledge about antibiotics and from other graduates (non-pharmacy- Group B) using a convenient. Findings: Survey was collected from 60(25 males & 35 females) pharmacy background candidates, and 40 (26 males & 14 females) non pharmacy candidates. both groups, without prior knowledge not practicing self-medication.30 % of Group A and 70 % of group B practicing self-medication with antibiotics. 32 % of group A and 58 % of group B are saying that self medication with antibiotics is acceptable practice. 75 % of both group A& B given the response for the reason for self-medication with antibiotics is time saving and secondly the reason is cost saving for group A (27%) and convenience is the second reason for group B (30 %).35 % of group A and 53 % of group B believing that they can treat common infectious diseases by self-medication.28 % of group A and 38 % of Group B were changing the dosage of Antibiotics deliberately some times during the course of self-treatment and most of them given the reason is for improving conditions. among group A 63% & 33 % and group B 53% &38 % are getting antibiotics from self-treatment from RMP and community pharmacies respectively. 28 % of A group and 35 % of B group switch antibiotics during the course of self-treatment. 50% of A group are switching the antibiotics as the former antibiotic did not works and 60 % of group are switching to another antibiotic to reduce the adverse effects. KEYWORDS: self-medication, antibiotics, practices, groups, OT