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Research Article
Volume 2 Issue 4 - 2018
Self-medication in Skin Conditions: A Cross Sectional Survey
Mubashar Mashqoor Mir1* and Mohammad Sarwar Mir2
1Post Graduate Resident, Post Graduate Department of Dermatology, GMC Jammu
2Senior Resident, Department of Hospital Adminstration, SKIMS, Srinagar
*Corresponding Author: Mubashar Mashqoor Mir, Post Graduate Resident, Post graduate Department of Dermatology, India.
Received: May 05, 2018; Published: June 12, 2018
Abstract
Self-medication involves individuals or their carers administering a medical drug of their own choice for symptomatic relief and in the hope of a "cure", without seeking professional medical advice. The aim of this descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at was to identify the occurrence of self-medication for the topical treatment of skin diseases in community. We observed 50 cases of self-medication (from a total of 500 subjects).
Keywords: Self medication; Skin diseases; Cross sectional Survey
Introduction
Self-medication is a term used to describe the various ways in which the individuals or those responsible for them decide on which drug to administer for symptomatic relief or “cure”, without seeking a professional medical evaluation of their condition. [1] Self-medication can involve sharing other people´s drugs, using left over prescriptions or failing to use medicines prescribed by professional medical practitioners. [2,3] In developed countries the prevalence of self-medication varies between 30% and 90%. [4-7]
The most commonly-used drugs are analgesics, antipyretics and NSAIDs. [8,9] The misuse of topical substances can result in bacterial resistance, hypersensitivity reactions, dependence, withdrawal symptoms etc. Furthermore, the temporary relief of symptoms can mask a disease which goes undetected and can progress to a more serious condition.
Material and Methods
A cross-sectional descriptive study of a community was carried out treated aimed at identifying the occurrence of self-medication in the topical treatment of skin diseases.
Inclusion criteria: Patients had used a medication before specialist consultation. A standardized questionnaire was applied with a view to evaluating the occurrence of self-medication prior to the consultation. Questions referred to the type of drug used, who indicated the particular substance, why it was decided to use non-prescription medication and whether any changes in the patient´s clinical status had been noticed after using the drug. [10]
Results and Discussion
Of the Self-medication is common, yet often goes Underreported. The fact that some skin diseases are self-limiting and benign encourages, with the result that patients frequently do not see the need to seek professional advice from dermatologists.
Of the 50 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 30 (60.0) were males and 20 (40.0%) were females. Drugs were recommended by family members or friends (48.0%), pharmacy employees (20.0%) or by doctors from some other branch of medicine.
Drugs Frequency Percentage
Anti acne creams 20 40.0%
Topical steroids 15 30.0%
Combinations 8 16.0%
Others 7 14.0%
Table 1: Most common self medications.
The most commonly-used drugs encountered in our study were: Anti-acne preparations (27.5%), corticosteroids and combinations (corticosteroids, antibiotics and antifungals). Others included moisturizers and barrier creams. The high prevalence of acne (particularly facial) in the younger population undermines the self-esteem of individuals and drives them to seek some form of treatment, often encouraged by media advertising which fuels the growing demand for anti-acne products.
Conclusion and Recommendations
Our study revealed that self-medication is quite common in skin conditions. It is important that people in our society should be given impartial scientific information on the nonprescription drugs freely on sale, in the hope of reducing massive consumption and the myth of a cure promised by these products. One further important point: people should be encouraged to seek professional medical help from the experts and made aware of the positive advantages to health of a proper medical consultation rather than resorting to self-medication.
References
  1. Padoveze EH., et al. “Cross-sectional descriptive study of topical self-medication in a Hospital Dermatology Department in the State of São Paulo”. Anais Brasileiros De Dermatologia 87.1 (2012):163-5.
  2. Paulo LG., et al. “Automedicação no Brasil”. Rev Ass Med Bras 34 (1988): 69-75.
  3. Arrais PSD., et al. “Perfilda automedicação no Brasil”. Rev Saude Publica 31 (1997): 71-77.
  4. Johnson RE., et al. “Health status and social factors in nonprescribed drug use”. Med Care 21(1983): 225-233.
  5. Lam CLK., et al. “Selfmedication among Hong Kong Chinese”. Social Science & Medicine 39 (1994): 1641-1647.
  6. Francis S VT., et al. “Self-medication in children and adolescents”. Journal of Pediatrics 83 (2007): 453-458.
  7. Bush PJ., et al.“Pathways to medicine use”. Journal of Health and Social Behavior 19 (1978): 179-89.
  8. Segall A. “A community survey of self-medication activities”. Medcare Diagnostic 28 (1990): 301-10.
  9. Haak H. “Padrões de consumo de medicamentos em dois povoados da Bahia (Brasil)”. Revista de Saúde Pública 23 (1989): 143-51.
  10. Vilarino JF., et al. “Perfil da automedicação em município do sul do Brasil”. Revista de Saúde Pública 32 (1998): 43-49.
Citation: Mubashar Mashqoor Mir and Mohammad Sarwar Mir. “Self-medication in Skin Conditions: A Cross Sectional Survey”. Chronicles of Pharmaceutical Science 2.4 (2018): 622-624.
Copyright: © 2018 Mubashar Mashqoor Mir and Mohammad Sarwar Mir. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.