Muhammad Majid Aziz|Imran Masood|Mahreen Yousaf|Hammad Saleem|Dan Ye|Yu Fang
Pattern of medication selling and self-medication practices: A study from Punjab, Pakistan
Xi'an Jiaotong University|Islamia University of Bahawalpur|Bahauddin Zakariya University|University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences|Xi'an Jiaotong University|Xi'an Jiaotong University
background access medicines without prescription major contributing factor selfmedication practices study designed examine ratio nonprescribed medicines sales selfmedication practices punjab pakistan study also evaluates reasons selfmedication within communities methods observational study conducted 272 systemically selected pharmacies analyze medicinesrelated sales without prescription crosssectional survey performed june 2015 november 2016 consumers interviewed selfmedication practices results pharmacies surveyed 653 participated study total 4348 medicines purchased selfmedication 3037 consumers 152 study participants 873 287 participated interview majority 812 medicine purchaser 909 interview participants 594 drug users male average community pharmacy sold 79 medicines without prescription day average 55 customers many participants 289 matriculation formal education medicines often sold selfmedication analgesics antipyretics394 25 participants reported fever symptoms 478 assumed illness trivial consult doctor media advertisements common source information participants 467 conclusion many types medicines often sold without prescription community pharmacies selfmedication common practice wide range illnesses pakistan also needs effective implementation policies monitor medication sales public education rational medication limits advertising medicine necessary