Prevalence of self medication among dental patients

Self- medication is a common practice in developing countries but little is known about its determinants. Self-medication leads to drug resistant pathogens and serious health hazards. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with self-medication among dental patients. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 400 outdoor patients. The objective was to determine the extent and pattern of Self medication, to identify their knowledge and practice against purchased drugs and to assess factors associated with it. Data were collected by interviewed based questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS. Among 430 outdoor patients, 400 participated [response rate 93%] in this survey. The Self mediators were reported 66.6%, p<0.001] as compared to adults [57.8%, non Self medicated were 42.2%]. Female patients were more prone towards Self medication [66.4%] as compared to male patients [45.4%]. Among various reasons, cost and expenditure is in lower class, Laziness and Lack of time in middle while Dental phobia in upper class in the main reasons of Self Medications. The self motivators were Graduates [32.7%, p=0.002] while patients who consider dental phobia as a reason of SM has completed high school/ intermediate education [32.3%]. A need was felt to focus on counseling and create awareness about negative aspect of self-medication. Though self-medication is hard to eliminate, drug law enforcement and educating the public at large is vital

prevalence of tobacco consumption in youth of Karachi, Pakistan - a pilot study

The aim of this study is to explore the prevalence of tobacco consumption in young people and observe its association with second hand smoking. It is a pilot study conducted in Karachi, Pakistan. Following are the objectives of this study: This pilot study will help to proceed with conducting validated Global Youth Tobacco Survey [GYTS] in Karachi using standard methodology in future. It will also establish current and life time prevalence of smoking in young people of Karachi, Pakistan. To study correlation between young people consuming tobacco and the effect of environmental tobacco smoke [second hand smoking]. A cross sectional study was conducted in a private school in Karachi. School was selected through convenience sampling. The sample consisted of 76 students both boys and girls had equal opportunity to participate in the survey. A Validated GYTS questionnaire was used. The current prevalence of smoking is 16% while the students who ever smoked is 41% which is comparatively high to other Global Youth Tobacco Survey [GYTS] conducted in other cities in Pakistan, The results matched with GYTS Eastern Mediterranean Regions which reports 15.3% as current smokers. Environmental tobacco smoke or second hand smoking reported was statistically significant. In this study environmental tobacco smoke [ETS] second hand smoking has been considered as an associated factor and has correlation with tobacco consumption in young people in Karachi. Further research is needed by conducting GYTS using the standard methodology and tobacco awareness programmes need to be integrated in health promoting schools to reduce the ETS