ABSTRACT
Background: Self-medication is a common practice across the world and its consequences e.g. misdiagnosis, wrong diagnosis, irrational use of drug, adverse drug reaction, and antimicrobial resistant are cause of concern. The students of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, paramedical courses are among the most vulnerable class for its practice. The study was to assess the extent and factors influencing self-medication among undergraduate dental students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out, that included 1st, 2nd and 3rd year students of dental college in Delhi. A semi-structured questionnaire consisting of demographic questions and questions on knowledge, attitude and practices of self-medication in the last six months was prepared and distributed among students. Questions on food supplements were also asked. Results: Of a total of 154 students, 39 % reported at least one minor episode of illness, (61%) of them practiced self-medication and 30.1% of the students also advised medicines to other. Most common source of advice was family and friends (45.3%) followed by chemists and books. Most common self-medicated drugs were paracetamol followed by cetirizine. Most Common reported illness for self-medication were fever (41.5%) followed by cough and common cold (24.4%). A significant number has used food supplements and drugs of alternative medicines. Conclusion: Prevalence of self-medication among dental students is high that needs to be intervened at different stratas. Academician and health professionals need to educate students about the rational use of drug and impact of irrational prescribing.
ABSTRACT
Background: The pursuit of best and responsible use of medicines is the basis for concept and effort of Rational use of drug. RUD addresses steps in supply-use chain of drugs i.e. selection, prescribing, dispensing, monitoring and feedback. Hence periodic and continuous auditing of drug prescribing pattern is vital tool for promotion of RUD. Ophthalmology largely becoming an outpatient and day care department with almost nil Inpatient. So present study is to analyse drug prescribing pattern in Ophthalmology OPD. Methods: A prospective cross sectional study was done. Prescription were analysed for number of drugs per prescription, number of antibiotics, no of injection per prescription, Drugs from Essential Medicine List, Fixed dose Combinations. Results: A total of 176 prescriptions were analyzed the average number of drugs per prescription being 2.7 [0.78].Eye drops being the most common (81.01%) dosage form. injections were only 0.63% of all drugs. Percentage of prescription with Antibiotics were (36%) All drugs were prescribed only in brand name, none by generic name. 40.29% (940/1516) of drugs were prescribed from essential medicine list. Almost all prescriptions were having clear information on dosage form, dose, frequency and duration of treatment. Conclusion: Out of different parameters and drug prescribing indicators some are satisfactory e.g Information for patient in prescription. Some others like absence of generic name in prescription, high %age of antibiotics, lower % of drugs from EML needs attention. Conclusions: . It seems that awareness among the clinician about Rational prescribing is increasing. There is need of continuous endeavour to sensitise the clinician for rational use of drug.
ABSTRACT
Background: Asthma is common chronic disease worldwide. Methylxanthines has been used in the treatment of asthma. The study was undertaken to compare two Methylxanthines theophylline and doxofylline at doses recommended and commonly used in clinical practice in Mild Bronchial Asthma Patients. Methods: Study was conducted in patients of Mild Bronchial Asthma in TB and chest disease department of a medical college hospital. It was randomized, prospective and open label. A total of 107 patients were divided in two group .Group I was administered 400 mg theophylline SR once daily and group II was administered doxofylline 400 mg twice a day orally. Spirometric variables symptom score, and adverse effects were recorded on day 0, 7 and 21 of therapy. Data were compared and analysed using SPSS version 16. Results: Results of the study showed that there was significant improvement in spirometric variables and clinical symptom score compared to pretreatment values after medication in both groups on 7th and 21st days of treatment. But there was no statistically significant difference between improvement in theophylline and doxofylline groups with respect to spirometric variables and symptom score. There was no significant difference in two groups with respect to side effects (p>0.05). Conclusions: It is concluded in Patients of mild Bronchial Asthma Theophylline and doxofylline improve the spirometric and clinical symptoms and doxofylline has no advantage over theophylline in terms of either efficacy or safety on the doses commonly used in current clinical practice.