Impact of patient counseling on the safe practice of self-medication

Author: Jayakumar K. S., Arul B., Kothai R, Philip Jacob

Download PDF

Abstract

Self-Medication Practice (SMP) is the habit of consuming medication without a healthcare professional’s prescription. The key intention of this study is to identify the impact of patient counseling in reducing the practice of self-medication. The present study was a cross-sectional study conducted in a community of 250 people in Eraviperoor Grama panchayath of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala for 6 months. From this study it was able to identify that self-medication is being practiced by all age groups irrespective of their educational qualification and the incidence is more among educated. It had been realized that even self-medication was used for diseases with symptoms that lasted for more than three days, Antimicrobials were used without the consultation and directions of a doctor, for diseases for which they had to seek advice from the doctor if the symptoms are not being cured, they use to alter the dose of medicine by their own. This had happened primarily due to their lack of knowledge, other contributing factors such as lack of time, difficulty in accessibility to the health care system, dissatisfaction towards the present health care system, and knowledge about drugs and disease from other sources also play a major role. Through structured and effective patient counseling, the public can be made aware of the consequences of self-medication, thus the practice of self-medication can be reduced which is evident from the current study.

Keywords

Self Medication Practice, Patient counseling, Pathanamthitta, Aleppy

Conclusion

Insecure use and consumption of drugs can lead to harmful effects such as adverse drug reactions, drug resistance, and unwanted financial expenditure. It was able to identify that the practice of self-medication is popular in all age groups beneath their educational qualification. This happens due to their lack of knowledge about the hazards due to the irrational use of drugs even if it happens in the case of antimicrobials. Structured patient counseling had reduced the practice of self-medication. which proved that patient counseling had an impact on reducing the practice of self-medication. Pharmacists in all sectors of practice should have to be brought aware of the importance of proper counseling to patients about the use of drugs. Thus, the practice of self-medication and hazards that happens due to the same can be rectified.

References

-

How to cite this article

Jayakumar K. S., Arul B., Kothai R, Philip Jacob (2023). Impact of patient counseling on the safe practice of self-medication. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(6): 748-760.