Abstract

EVALUATION OF DRUG USE PATTERN AND BEHAVIOR IN GRADUATE AND NON GRADUATE POPULATION

Neeku Singh*, Vishal Baliyan, Mashiullah Khan, Dheeraj Kumar Vishwakarma and Shivani Kumari

ABSTRACT

Background: Irrational use of medicines leads to problems such as ineffective treatment, health risks non-adherence, medication wastages, needless expenditure, improper storage and disposal of medicine. Self-medication and health care seeking behavior pattern varies among different populations. Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the drug use pattern and behavior in graduate and non graduate population on behalf of their medication usage. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a validated questionnaire among 300 participants excluding healthcare professionals, 165 each from graduate and 135 each from non graduate people of Coimbatore district, Moradabad Results: From the study we observed that 43.63%in graduate and 44% in non graduate population had the habit of checking expiry date before using their medication. 80% and 57% of the participants carried their previous prescriptions during doctor visit in rural and urban community respectively. 3.3% of participants had the habit of suggesting and lending their medicines. 27.3% of rural and 14.6% of urban participants repurchased medicines with their previous prescriptions. 40.3% of participants were consulting pharmacists for drug information. Majority of our participants from both communities had a habit of disposing their unused or expired medications in trash. The prevalence of self-medication was 86.6% and 67.2% in urban and rural populations respectively. Conclusion: From the study we conclude that both the communities have imperfections with drug use practice such as Adherence, self-medication, drug disposal and repurchase of medications. This suggests the strong need for implementation of population need-based awareness programs in both the communities.

Keywords: Self-medication, Adherence, Drug Disposal, Medicine Sharing, Drug use practice, graduate and Non graduate.