Owais Khalid Durrani, Iqraa Shakeel Malik, Kamran Khan, Shafaq Zahoor, Amina Khurshid, Hina Mukhtar, Sammi-ur Rehman, Rabia Jamil, Hammad Naseer Khan.
Self medication among dental patients visiting a tertiary care dental hospital.
Pak Oral Dental J Jan ;36(4):560-4.

Self medication or the use of unprescribed drugs is a common practice around the globe. Lack of services lead general population towards self-medication, which needs to be taken in account for patient’s safety and health. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, leading factors, confidence level of dental patients and their perception regarding self medication. A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted on the patients visiting OPD of IIDH & private clinics in Rawalpindi and Islamabad over the period of two months and three days. Sample size constituted of700 dental patients. Standardized questions included, reason of self medication, type of medication, adverse reactions of medication and perception of patients about self medication and demographic questions. 502 respondents out of 700 self medicated (372 males and 130 females).Among this 65 % self-medicated for toothache, 45% for mouth ulcers. Most commonly used medicine was painkiller (43.3%) followed by medicated tooth paste (35.8%) is higher than antibiotics (10%).53.3 % respondents are of the opinion that they can treat themselves. Prevalence of self medications higher in males and among low socioeconomic status.

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