SELF-MEDICATION PRACTICES DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY

SHAKEEL AHMAD MIR; DANISH SHAKEEL; ZULFKAR LATIEF QADRI

doi:10.22159/ajpcr.2021.v14i10.42761

Authors

SHAKEEL AHMAD MIR Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Srinagar, Kashmir, India.
DANISH SHAKEEL Department of Computer Science Engineering, University Institute of Engineering Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab, India.
ZULFKAR LATIEF QADRI Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Srinagar, Kashmir, India.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2021.v14i10.42761

Keywords:

Covid-19, Pandemic, Self-medication, Drugs, Healthcare

Abstract

Objective: Self-medication is a worldwide practice in which individuals, families, and/or communities choose pharmaceuticals to address health conditions without consulting a doctor. It impacts the health of people both negatively as well as positively. This study aims to determine the prevalence of self-medication for COVID-19 like symptoms during the pandemic.

Methods: This is an online questionnaire-based survey on the perceptions and use of certain drugs for COVID-like symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. 168 people responded to the questionnaire.

Results: Out of 168 respondents, 53.0% were males. 71.4% were below 30 years of age and, 25.6% were 31–60 years. The majority (72.6%) were unmarried. 50.0% had studied up to university level. 49.4% were unemployed. 39.9% were healthcare workers. 59.9% had suffered from respiratory symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. All those who developed symptoms had self-medicated. The most commonly used drugs were Paracetamol (85.0%), Azithromycin (58.0%), Expectorants (30.0%), Ivermectin (18.0%), Doxycycline (16.0%), Corticosteroids (7.0%), and Hydroxychloroquine (4.0%). The major sources of information about the disease and drugs were pharmacists (46.6%) and the internet (28.0%).

Conclusion: There were significant percentages of self-medication during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the drugs without sufficient scientific evidence.

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Author Biography

SHAKEEL AHMAD MIR, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Srinagar, Kashmir, India.

Associate Professor

Clinical Pharmacology

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