Evaluation of Drug use Pattern and Behavior in Rural and Urban Population

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 behaviour pattern varies among different populations. Aim:The study aimed to evaluate the drug use pattern and behaviour in urban and rural 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, 150 each from urban and rural areas of Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu. Results:From the study we observed that 61.3% in urban and 58% in rural 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
• Urban and Rural

Showing references and in-text citations exactly as published.

• DOI10.5530/ijopp.13.1.9Copy

RELATED ARTICLES

Matched on section and article type within this issue of IJPP.

• Article · VOLUME 13, ISSUE 1A Prospective Study on Risk Factors and Drug Utilization Review Based on Clinical Profiles in Diabetic Emergency in a Tertiary Care HospitalAvvari Sanjeeva Kumar, Amatinthala Ashok, Maddika Anusha, Aeman Shafeen, Reddypogu Jona Methusala · pp. 20–26Research ArticleSame type: Article
• Article · VOLUME 13, ISSUE 1A Prospective Study on Clinical Profile with Special Reference to Etiology, Management and Drug Utilisation Review on Cerebrovascular Accident with Ischemic and Hemorrhagic StrokeBasheer Sayyed, Mohammad Akbar Shaik, Sripriya Kamitkar, Muazzamma Shaik, Govindarajan Nagarajan · pp. 27–35Research ArticleSame type: Article
• Article · VOLUME 13, ISSUE 1A Case Control Study on Factors Influencing Suicide AttemptsSushmitha Gutti, Surya Sunanda Koppisetty, Sruthi Paladugu, Maddirevula Maneesh Kumar Reddy, Nalluri Murali Krishna, Nadendla Rama Rao · pp. 36–41Research ArticleSame type: Article
• Article · VOLUME 13, ISSUE 1Epidemiological Study of Various Skin Diseases and Prescription Pattern of Drugs in Dermatological OPD in Khammam RegionT Praveen Kumar, S Shivani · pp. 42–49Research ArticleSame type: Article