Table 4 Attitudes of the study population on Self-Medication
Parameter | Total respondents | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% | n | ||
Reasons for Self-Medication | Previous experience | 532 | 76.0 |
Problem too trivial (minor) | 511 | 73.0 | |
Urgency of the problem | 159 | 22.7 | |
No time to go for a doctor | 161 | 23.0 | |
Consulting a doctor is too expensive | 122 | 17.4 | |
Quick relief | 279 | 39.9 | |
To avoid the embarrassing moments | 368 | 52.6 | |
Other (specify) | 3 | 0.4 | |
Considerations during purchase | Type of the drug | 89 | 12.7 |
Brand name | 222 | 31.7 | |
Price | 180 | 25.7 | |
Side effects | 225 | 32.1 | |
Anything given by the pharmacist | 285 | 40.7 | |
Preferred sources of medication purchase | Community pharmacies | 608 | 86.9 |
Left over from previous prescriptions | 357 | 51.0 | |
Family members | 250 | 35.7 | |
From friends | 148 | 21.1 | |
Neighbours | 29 | 4.1 | |
Preferred sources of information for Self-Medication | Previous doctor’s prescription | 480 | 68.6 |
Opinion of a friend | 240 | 34.3 | |
Own previous experience | 545 | 77.9 | |
Pharmacist advise | 335 | 47.9 | |
Opinion of family member | 318 | 45.4 | |
Advertisements/Leaflets | 79 | 11.3 | |
Internet and social media | 257 | 36.7 | |
Other (Specify) | 0 | 0.0 | |
Do you believe that you might have taken counterfeit drugs? | Yes | 143 | 20.4 |
No | 557 | 79.6 | |
Can common diseases be successfully treated through Self-Medication? | Yes I can | 324 | 46.7 |
Not sure | 308 | 44.0 | |
No, I cannot | 68 | 9.7 | |
Do you recommend drugs (medicines) for others? | Yes | 305 | 43.6 |
No | 395 | 56.4 | |