INTRODUCTION

Self- Medication
Self-medication can be defined as the use of drugs to treat self-diagnosed disorders or symptoms or the intermittent or continued use of a prescribed drug for chronic or recurrent disease or symptoms. It is usually selected by consumers for symptoms that they regard as troublesome to require drug therapy but not to justify the consultation of a prescriber. In developing countries, most illnesses are treated by self-medication. It has been noticed that people often practice self-medication & consume medicines on the basis of their knowledge, which they think is sufficient, or by just referring a chemist / druggist. They either consult a chemist & obtain a medicine from his shelf, or may consult a neighbour who may be having some tablets left over from his previous illness, & readily spares them. They dont prefer to consult a physician, due to many reasons. This practice may be harmful to the patient. Fever , cold, cough, constipation or indigestion is among the usual causes of self-medication. The mostly misused drugs are analgesics or pain relievers. A major shortfall of self-medication is the lack of clinical evaluation of the condition by a trained medical professional, which could result in missed diagnosis & delays in appropriate treatments. A major shortfall of self-medication is the lack of clinical evaluation of the condition by a trained medical professional, which could result in missed diagnosis & delays in appropriate treatments. A major problem with self-medication with antimicrobials is the emergence of human pathogens resistance. Self-medication with antibiotics may increase the risk of inappropriate use & the selection of resistant bacteria. One of the triggers for using self-medication may be past experience with antibiotics prescribed by health professionals. Safety issues include concerns relating to age of the user, pregnancy, underlying disease & the potential for drug interactions.

ANTIBIOTICS
Antibiotics are among the most frequently prescribed medications in modern medicine. Antibiotics cure disease by killing or injuring bacteria. The first antibiotic was penicillin, discovered accidentally from a mold culture. Today, over 100 different antibiotics are available to cure minor, as well as life-threatening infections. Although antibiotics are useful in a wide variety of infections, it is important to realize that antibiotics only treat bacterial infections. Antibiotics are useless against viral infections (for

example, the common cold) and fungal infections (such as ringworm). Your doctor can best determine if an antibiotic is right for your condition.

LITERATURE REVIEW
To study this topic much better researchers have used a few topics like consumer behaviour on self medication (1)comparative study of evaluation of self medication practices in first & third year medical students(2)an exploratory study of self medication among pharmacy graduates in India; an exploratory study of self medication among pharmacy graduates in India(3).Evaluation of self-medication among professional students in North India(4): proper statutory drug control must be implemented(5) and a few more. With the help of these articles we could study more about consumers increasingly being comfortable with self-medication. The objective behind consumer survey on self-medication is to figure out awareness of self-medication & trust on self-medication. We could also interpret that survey shows that the majority of professional students had a poor knowledge about appropriate self-medication while the knowledge of the benefits and risks was not adequate. A number of students consult pharmacists and follow advertisements on drug information. This issue needs to be addressed by the responsible authorities of State Pharmacy Council/Ministry of Health. (3) The percentage of self-medication might be change along with locality and region. The prevalence of self-medication among professional students in Pune, Maharashtra India is high. This descriptive survey shows that the majority of professional students had a poor knowledge about appropriate self-medication while the knowledge of the benefits and risks was not adequate. A number of students consult pharmacists and follow advertisements on drug information. This issue needs to be addressed by the responsible authorities of State Pharmacy Council/Ministry of Health.(4) Knowledge about appropriate self-medication was poor, attitude towards self-medication was positive and the practice of self-medication was quite high and often inappropriate. Educating students in particular and the public at large, about the dangers of indiscriminate use of drugs; the physicians being more judicious in prescribing and also insisting on drugs being supplied by the chemist only on a valid prescription; implementation of a proper statutory drug control rationally restricting the availability of drugs to the public. Also we did come to know that students have a better knowledge about certain aspects of self-medication which reflects the influence of medical training. But, even the junior students who are not exposed to the knowledge of drugs and disease are well aware about most of these which may be due to easy availability of information.(5) .

OBJECTIVES
To study the prevalence of practice of self-medication of antibiotics in Pune city,India. The frequency of usage of antibiotics has increased. Agewise pattern of self-medication of antibiotics Genderwise practice of self-medication. Awareness about side-effects & consulting doctor.

To find out whether education is a factor influencing the behaviour of self-medication of antibiotics. Sense of morality among chemists/pharmacists towards dispensing antibiotics without doctors prescription.

Scope:
Analyzing the current scenario. Testing the knowledge & perceptions of patients regarding Antibiotics. Knowing the Doctors point of view in this case. Understanding the chemists / druggists / pharmacists behavior. Analysis of the measures needed to be taken.

LIMITATIONS
1. The reason behind patients perception towards antibiotics is difficult as it may include various factors. 2. It may not be possible to cover the whole population so the sample size selected may be small. 3. Prone to o Non response error o Unconscious misinterpretation o Deliberate falsification o Acquiescence bias o Extremity bias and o Interviewer bias o Respondents may not participate in the process of giving information.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
DATA COLLECTION METHOD
Primary Data : For research process, Researchers have used the questionnaire survey method to conduct the analysis. Questionnaires are of many types such as structured & unstructured , disguised & undisguised. The appropriate category was chosen for the final questionnaire.Interviews conducted of Doctors .

Pretesting of Questionnaire : A pilot study was conducted by distributing a model questionnaire to a small sample group. Based on the doubts raised by the respondents, the questionnaire was modified accordingly. Secondary data : Secondary data collection was done through the use of websites & health journals.

DATA SOURCES :
Primary Data Source : Collected using questionnaires, Interviews of Doctors. Secondary Data Source : Literature reviews.

RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS:
Close ended questionnaires to obtain Primary Data Interviews Observation

Statistical tool:
Software used :- SPSS Manually assessment.

SAMPLING DESIGN:
Simple Random Sampling & Cluster Sampling

PERIOD COVERED BY THE Study:

2 Months

SAMPLING UNIT & SAMPLE SIZE :

Sample size of 360 was distributed in the following way :

AREA
KARVE NAGAR WARJE YERAWADA

GENERAL PUBLIC
45 45 45

DOCTORS
15 15 15

CHEMIST
12 12 12

SOMWARPETH SINHAGAD RD

45 45

15 15

12 12

Presentation & analysis of data.

1) Consumption of Antibiotic Without Prescription
HAVE YOU EVER TAKEN ANTIBIOTICS WITHOUT PRESCRIPTION?
Frequency Valid 0 1 Total 92 133 225 Percent 40.9 59.1 100 Valid Percent 40.9 59.1 100 Cumulative Percent 40.9 100

% OF PEOPLE THAT HAV TAKEN ANTIBIOTICS WITHOUT PRESCRIPTION

NO YES

findings & interpretation All of the respondents have consumed antibiotics once in their life. This probably reflects the increased usage of antibiotics without prescription among all sections of society in Pune city. Around 59% of respondents have consumed antibiotics without prescription.

41% 59%

2) AGE & SELF-MEDICATION Age and Practice of Self medication

Age Group
15-25 25-35 35-45 45-55

Total no. of Respondent

120 44 29 27

Preference of Preference of cumulative selfselfpercentage medication(no.) medication(%)

70 31 16 16 52.63 23.3 12.03 12.03 52.63 75.93 87.96 99.99

55 and above

Total

225

133

Age & Practice of self-medication

Total no. of Respondent Preference of self-medication(%) 120 Preference of self-medication(no.)

findings & interpretation According to the figures above, 52.63% of the respondents who preferred self-medication were from the 18-25yrs age group followed by 25-35yrs age group.It was observed that with the increasing age the practice of self-medication decreased.

70 52.63 44 31 23.3 29 16 12.03 27 16 12.03 5 0

15-25

25-35

35-45

45-55

55 and above

3) Gender & self-medication GENDER & PRACTICE OF SELF-MEDICATION

Gender
MALES FEMALES

Total no. of Respondent

Preference of selfmedication(no.)
158 67

Preference of self-medication (%)

90 43 56.96 64.17

GENDER & PRACTICE OF SELFMEDICATION

MALES FEMALES

Findings & interpretation It was found that the ratio of self- medication of antibiotics in females was more than the males.64.17 % of the total female respondents were practicing self-medication whereas only 56.96 % of males were found practicing the same.

67 158 43 90 Total no. of Respondent Preference of selfmedication(no.) 64.17 56.96 Preference of selfmedication(%)

4)Awareness about side-effects & consultingdoctor.

DO YOU KNOW ABOUT ANY SIDE EFFECTS?

Frequency Valid NO YES Total 73 152 225 Percent 32.4 67.6 100 Valid Percent 32.4 67.6 100 Cumulative Percent 32.4 100

Awareness Of Side-Effects
NO YES

32%

68%

HAVE YOU EVER REFFERED A DOCTOR BEFORE TAKING AN ANTIBIOTIC?

Frequency Valid NEVER ALWAYS OFTEN SOMETIMES RARELY Total 10 96 38 60 21 225 Percent 4.4 42.7 16.9 26.7 9.3 100 Valid per cent 4.4 42.7 16.9 26.7 9.3 100 Cumulative Per cent 4.4 47.1 64 90.7 100

Doctor's reference
never always often 4% 9% sometimes rarely

Findings & interpretation The awareness of side-effects were found in 62.7 % of the respondents but only 42.7 % of respondents always referred a doctor before taking an antibiotic on their own.

27%

43%

17%

5) To find out whether education is a factor influencing the behaviour of selfmedication of antibiotics
ACCORDING TO DOCTOR,WHICH OF THESE TWO PREFER SELF-MEDICATION? Frequency Percent Valid Cumulative Percent Percent
Valid 1 2 3 31 29 15 41.3 38.7 20 41.3 38.7 20 41.3 80 100

Total

75

100

100

EDUCATION (DOCTORS)
LITERATES ILLITERATES BOTH

20% 41%

39%

ACCORDING TO CHEMIST, WHICH OF THESE TWO PREFER SELF-MEDICATION? Frequency Percent Valid Cumulative Percent Percent
Valid 1 2 3 33 21 6 55 35 10 55 35 10 55 90 100

Total

60

100

100

EDUCATION (CHEMIST)
LITERATE ILLITERATE BOTH

Findings & interpretation We found that both chemists & doctors were of the opinion that literates were more into selfmedication of antibiotics. 41% of doctors & 55% of chemists were of this opinion.

10%

35%

55%

6) Sense of morality among chemists/pharmacists towards dispensing

antibiotics without doctors prescription.

DO YOU THINK THERE SHOULD BE STRICT LAW AGAINST PRESCRIBING ANTIBIOTICS WITHOUT PRESCRIPTION? Frequency Percent
Valid NEUTRAL AGREE STRONGLY AGREE DISAGREE STRONGLY DISAGREE 14 17 18 6 5 23.3 28.3 30 10 8.3

Valid Percent
23.3 28.3 30 10 8.3

Cumulative Percent
23.3 51.7 81.7 91.7 100

Total

60

100

100

STRICT LAW (CHEMIST)

Frequency Percent 100

60 23.3 28.3 17 30 18 6 10 5 8.3 Total

14

NEUTRAL

AGREE

STRONGLY DISAGREE STRONGLY AGREE DISAGREE

Findings &Interpretation 28.3% of chemists agree, 30% of chemists strongly agree to the fact that there should be a strict law regarding prescription of antibiotics without prescription. 23.3% of chemists were found to be neutral as in they formed no opinion regarding the strict law. 8.3% strongly disagree & 10% disagree for introducing any strict law regarding prescription of antibiotics.

RECOMMENDATIONS
Antibiotics are potent drugs which cause side-effects and may cause allergy too. There are various rules & norms laid down by the FDA which needs to be strictly followed. For this to happen, we would recommend: Chemist/pharmacist/druggists need to understand their responsibilities & realize their importance in the society. The doctors also need to be more assertive in making sure their patients dont use the once -prescribed again for similar kind of disorder either for themselves or for any other person. The rules against selling of antibiotics without prescription need to be more vigilant.

 Though there have been issues about making some categories as OTC drugs, still until govt. takes any concerned steps, it should not be permitted, rather completely prohibited. Proper database regarding sale of antibiotics should be maintained. Strict actions should be taken against such chemists. Some measure to educate population and make them aware regarding self-medication need to be taken by the govt.

Some Recommendation/Precautions for patients/People : The patients need to understand that self -medication, especially in the case of antibiotics can be hazardous as it causes side-effects & allergies too. Thus it is recommended to use antibiotics only after consulting a doctor. The patients should realize that dispensing antibiotics over the counter without asking for doctors prescription is illegal and not permitted by the government thus even they notice some chemist performing such activity, they should inform concerned authority. The people should not follow such practices by themselves and should also guide others regarding this.

CONCLUSION :
The research project helped us to study about the prevalence of practice of self-medication in Pune, India. We came to realize the increasing need of assertive and solid measures to be taken by the govt. soon to stop the misuse of drugs. We also understood the patients perceptions towards antibiotics and their behaviour towards their administration. The research project enabled us to get a clear picture about the malpractices followed by the chemist/pharmacists. It also helped us to understand some of the factors influencing the practice of self- medication of antibiotics and their misuse. We also realize the chemists behaviour & perception towards dispensing antibiotics as over the counter without seeking the doctors prescription. Thus as a conclusion, it can be stated that there is an urgent need to take some solid step to stop this practice of self- medication of hazardous antibiotics among the people of Pune India.

REFRENCES
Edward .J.Khantzian (sept. 2008): understanding addiction as self-medication : Finding Hope Behind The Pain Ayola Olatund (Feb.1980): Self Medication Benefits, precaution and dangers Yinhuan Hu (Jan.2009) :Self Medication Behaviour of urban residence and their health research Chaunce. D. Leake (June2007): The History of Self Medication