A thorough research was conducted among the individuals to understand the perspective of individuals towards self-medication. Self medication was even started for chronic diseases. The result was very surprising and new which we got to know.

1. Perception and awareness of
Self-medication
Prepared by-
PM-20-03 Rohit Dhumal
PM-20-05 Rakshita Hegde
PM-20-09 Akash Kunwar
PM-20-16 Govind Pathak
PM-20-21 Aishwarya Samel
1

2. Nature of Project
SR. NO. PARAMETER DESCRIPTION
1 Research Type Quantitative
2 Data Collection Primary
3 Measurement Technique Structured Questionnaire
4 Sample Size 300
5 Analysis Technique MS Excel & SPSS
2

3. 02 03
01
To understand
perception and attitude
in all age groups for
self medication.
To study the type
medicines
preferred for self
medication.
Objectives of Project
To study the common
indications which are
treated through self
medication.
3

4. Demographics
37
200
45
13 2 3
0
50
100
150
200
250
<19 years 20-30
years
31-40
years
41-50
years
51-60
years
> 60 years
No. of Individuals on the basis
of age group
Comment: Out of 300 Individuals 200
have age between 20-30 years and 5
individuals have age more than 50
years.
Comment: Out of 300 Individuals 168
have graduated, 52 have completed post
graduation and 9 are still in their high
school.
168
9
52
71
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
Graduation High School Post-graduation Up to graduation
No. of Individuals on the basis of
their education
4

5. Demographics
Comment: Out of 300 Individuals, 45 have
income between Rs.30,000 – Rs.40,000
and 9 individuals have income more than
Rs. 1,00,000.
15
29
41
45
40
23
18
10
9
15
55
No. of individual
on the basis of income
< Rs. 10,000
Rs. 10,000 - Rs. 20,000
Rs. 20,001 - Rs. 30,000
Rs. 30,001 - Rs. 40,000
Rs. 40,001 - Rs. 50,000
Rs. 50,001 - Rs. 60,000
Rs. 60,001 - Rs. 70,000
Rs. 70,001 - Rs. 80,000
Rs. 80,001 - Rs. 90,000
Rs. 90,001 - Rs. 1,00,000
> Rs. 1,00,000
5

6. Analysis of Surveys
Comment: Out of 300 individuals, 109 individuals
i.e. 36.3 % do self-medication & 47 individuals i.e.
15.7% prefer going to doctor.
Q1. Incase of minor illness what do you do?
Frequency Percent
Consult elders in the
family
76 25.3
Go to chemist & ask
him
68 22.7
Self-medication 109 36.3
Visit a doctor 47 15.7
Total 300 100.0
Q2. Have you done self-medication during
the last three month for any indication?
41.33%
58.66%
Self- medication in last
three months
No
Yes
Comment: Out of 300 individuals, 176 individuals
i.e. 58.66% did self-medication in last three months
while 124 individuals i.e. 41.33% did not do self-
medication in last three months. 6

7. Analysis- Whether the individuals having different incomes preferred practicing
self-medication in last three months
4
2
4
2
• H0 – Practicing self medication is independent of different income of
individuals
• H1 – Practicing self medication is dependent of different income of
individuals
• α- 0.05
• Probability Distribution- Chi square test
• P= 0.068
• 0.068>0.05
• Therefore, accept H0.
• The individuals having different incomes is independent on the age groups
of individuals.
• Comment: 30 individuals i.e.54.5% out of 55 individuals having income
more than Rs. 1,00,000 per month preferred practicing self medication for
last 3 months and 4 individuals i.e.26.7% out of 15 individuals having
income less than Rs. 10,000 per month preferred practicing self-medication.
• 25 individuals i.e. 45.5% out of 55 individuals having income more than Rs.
1,00,000 per month did not prefer practicing self-medication for last 3
months and 2 individuals i.e.22.2% out of 9 individuals did not prefer
practicing self-medication. 7

8. Q2a. Reasons for not practicing self medication w.r.t. different age grps-
Comment:
- Among 200 individuals of age between
20-30 years who have stopped practicing
self-medication, 75 individuals i.e. 37.5%
found risks of using wrong drugs and 57
individuals i.e. 28.5% did not have proper
knowledge for self-medication.
- Among 45 individuals of age between 31-
40 years who have stopped practicing self-
medication, 22 individuals i.e. 48.9% found
risk of using wrong drugs and 12 individuals
i.e. 26.7% found it difficult to use.
8

9. Q2b. Indications for which self medication was practiced-
163
177
2
38
105
57
146
80
122
183
0 50 100 150 200
Cold
Acidity
Throat ache
Ear ache
Body ache
Mouth ulcer
Cough
Indigestion
Fever
Headache
Indications w.r.t. self medication
Comment:
- Among 300 individuals, 183 individuals
practiced self medication for headache,
177 individuals practiced self medication
for acidity while only 2 individuals
practiced for throat ache.
- Headache, acidity, cold, cough and
fever were the indications for which
mostly self medication was practiced.
9

10. Q5. Analysis- Expereince of individuals of different age groups with self-
medication
• H0 – Experience with self-medication is independent of
different age groups of individuals
• H1 – Experience with self-medication is dependent of
different age groups of individuals
• α- 0.05
• Probability Distribution- Chi square test
• P= 0.000
• 0.000>0.05
• Therefore, reject H0.
• The experience with self-medication is dependent on the age
groups of individuals.
• Comment: 159 individuals i.e.79.5% had good experience
for self-medication &15 individuals i.e.7.5% had side effects
while practicing self-medication out of the total 200
individuals among 20-30 years of age group & 18 individuals
i.e.40% stopped self-medication and 13 individuals i.e.29.9%
had good self-medication out of the total 45 individuals
among 31-40 years of age group.
10

11. Q6. Source of information for self-medication w.r.t. qualification of individuals
Comment:
- Amongst 168 individuals who have
completed their graduation, 51 individuals
i.e. 30.4% referred doctor’s prescription and
41 individuals i.e. 24.4% preferred
pharmacists for information of the drugs
used for self-indication.
- Among 71 individuals who have
completed their education up to graduation,
20 individuals i.e.28.2% referred doctor’s
prescription and 16 individuals i.e.22.5%
refer friends and family, own experience
and pharmacists each for information of the
drugs used for self-indication.
11

12. Q7. Analysis- Whether family income alter reason for choosing self-medication
• H0 – Reason for choosing self-medication is independent of family
income
• H1 – Reason for choosing self-medication is dependent of family
income
• α- 0.05
• Probability Distribution- Chi square test
• P= 0.938
• 0.938>0.05
• Therefore, accept H0.
• The reason for choosing self-medication is independent of family
income.
• Comment: Among 55 individuals having family income more than
1,00,000, 30 individuals i.e. 54.5% prefer self-medication and believe
in not to visit doctor for minor illness and 18 individuals i.e. 32.7%
prefer self-medication for its ease and convenience. Among 15
individuals having family income less than 10,000, 7 individuals
i.e.46.7% prefer self medication and believe in not to visit doctor for
minor illness and due to its ease and convenience and 1 individual i.e.
6.7% prefer self-medication because its economical.
12

13. Q8. Type of medicines preferred-
120
57
61
62
No. of individuals on the basis medicine
preference
Allopathic
Ayurveda
Home Remedies
Homeopathic
Comment: Among 300 individuals, 120 individuals i.e. 40% prefer Allopathic medicines
and 62 individuals i.e. 20.66% prefer Homeopathic medicines.
Analysis of Surveys
13

14. Q9. Oppurtunity Matrix- Importance and satisfaction of parameters to be
considered while self-medication
Parameters Importance (I) Satisfaction (S) OM = I + (I-S)
Efficacy 3.84 3.77 3.91
Side Effects 3.83 3.49 4.17
Convenience 3.72 3.64 3.8
Cost 3.33 3.48 3.33
Availability of drugs 3.66 3.62 3.7
Time Saving 3.53 3.63 3.53
Quality 4.01 3.77 4.25
Taste 3.13 3.34 3.13
Brand name 3.14 3.57 3.14
Comment: The most preferred
parameters which should be considered
while practicing self-medication is
Quality, Side Effects & Efficacy.
14

15. Q10. Procuring the medicines for self-medicines w.r.t. family income
• H0 – Procuring medicines for self-medication is independent of
family income
• H1 – Procuring medicines for self-medication is dependent of
family income
• α- 0.05
• Probability Distribution- Chi square test
• P= 0.637
• 0.637>0.05
• Therefore, accept H0.
• The procuring of medicines for self-medication is independent
of family income.
• Comment: Among 55 individuals having family income more
than 1,00,000, 37 individuals i.e. 67.3 % procured medicines for
self-medication from medical stores and 7 individuals i.e.
12.7% procured medicines from e-Pharmacy.
15

16. Q11. Do you understand the instructions
written on pack medication?
Analysis of Surveys
Frequency Percent
Do not understand 7 2.3
Fully understand 185 61.7
Partially Understand 108 36
Total 300 100.0
Comment: More than 50% of the sample size
understand instructions written on the pack of
medicines.
Q12. Have you ever experienced any
side effects due to self-medication?
86
145
37
32
No. of individuals on the basis
of side effects experienced
Depends
Never
Sometimes
Very often
Comment: Among 300 individuals, 145 individuals i.e.
48.33% never experienced side effects & 32 individuals
i.e. 10.66% very often experienced side effects.
16

17. Q13. Encouraging friends and family for self-medication w.r.t. different age grps-
Comment:
- 142 individuals i.e.47.3% encourage their
friends and family for self-medication
occasionally among which maximum 93
individuals i.e.65.5% are between 20-30
years & minimum 2 individuals i.e.1.4% are
above 60 years.
- 87 individuals i.e.29% do not encourage
their friends & family for self-medication .
- 50 individuals i.e.16.7% fully encourage
their friends & family for self-medication.
- 21 individuals i.e.7% frequently encourage
their friends & family for self-medication.
17

18. Q14 a. Check information on the pack of medicines w.r.t. different education-
Comment: 223 individuals i.e. 74.3%
always check information on the package
among which maximum 122 individuals
i.e. 54.7% are graduated and minimum 5
individuals i.e. 2.2% are in high school.
18

19. Q14 b. Check information on the pack of medicines w.r.t. different age group-
Comment:
- 223 individuals i.e. 74.3% always check
information on the package for self-
medication among which maximum 158
individuals i.e. 70.9% are between 20-30
years & minimum 1 individuals i.e. 0.4%
are above 60 years.
- 77 individuals i.e. 25.7% sometimes check
information on the package for self-
medication among which maximum 42
individuals i.e. 54.5% are between 20-30
years & minimum 2 individuals i.e. 2.6%
are above 60 years.
19

20. Analysis of Surveys
Q15. Do you follow the instructions and do
you comply with the given instructions?
3%
65%
32%
No. of Individuals on basis of compliance
with the instructions
Not sure Yes, always Yes, sometimes
Q16. Did you ever take antibiotics during
self-medication?
67.7%
32.3%
No. of individuals taking antibiotics
No Yes
Comment: Out of 300 individuals, 194 individuals
i.e.65% always comply with the instructions, 96
individuals i.e.32% sometimes comply with
instructions & 9 individuals i.e. 3% do not comply.
Comment: Out of 300 individuals, 202 individuals
i.e. 67.7% take antibiotic during self-medication and
97 individuals i.e.32.3% do not take antibiotic
during self-medication.
20

21. Q17. Analysis- Whether different age group of individuals alter their actions
after expereincing side effects.
4
2
4
2
• H0 – Actions taken after side effects experienced is
independent of different age groups of individuals
• H1 – Actions taken after side effects experienced is
dependent of different age groups of individuals
• α- 0.05
• Probability Distribution- Chi square test
• P= 0.000
• 0.000<0.05
• Therefore, reject H0.
• The action taken after side effects experienced is dependent
on the age groups of individuals.
• Comment: 114 individuals i.e.57% between 20-30 years visit
to the doctor out of total 145 individuals, 15 individuals
i.e.7.5% between 20-30 years visit to the pharmacist out of
the total 32 individuals, 19 individuals i.e.41.3% between 31-
40 years visit to primary healthcare center and 54 individuals
i.e.27% between 20-30 years stopped self-medication out of
the total 77 individuals
21

22. Q18. Analysis- Whether different qualifications of individuals remodel their
decision for discontinuing self medication.
• H0 – Discontinuing self medication is independent of
qualification of individuals
• H1 – Discontinuing self medication is dependent of a
qualification of individuals
• α- 0.05
• Probability Distribution- Chi square test
• P= 0.182
• 0.182>0.05
• Therefore, Accept H0.
• The discontinuing self medication is independent of
qualification of individuals.
• Comment: Among graduates, 56 individuals i.e.64.6%
discontinue the self- medication out of total 168 individuals,
pair of 3 individuals i.e.33.3% of high school discontinue self
medication after completion of course and after consulting
doctor/pharmacists out of total 9 individuals and 20
individuals i.e.23.8% post graduates discontinue self
medication after symptoms disappeared out of total 52
individuals. 22

23. Quarter of total individuals only
sometimes checked for information on
the pack of medicines while the rest
always checked for information on the
pack of medicines.
Conclusion
- Self-medication is the most
preferred practice among the
individuals to treat acute
indications like cold, fever, cough
and headache.
- Mostly indiviudals were
dependent on allopathic
medicines and seldom were
dependent on ayurveda medicines.
- Maximum individuals of age between
20-30 years preferred not practicing
self-medication due to risk of using
wrong drugs
23

24. 04
02
01
- The company dealing in
producing & marketing
medicines for self-
medication should try to
improve their position
medicines on the basis of
cost, taste & brand name
03
Recommendations
- Proper counselling should
be given to individuals who
sometimes check for
information on pack of
medicines.
- The Pharma companies
should try put the information
in more understandable way
for the consumers.
- The company should use
aggressive techniques to
create awareness among
individuals for self-
indication.
24

25. Thank
You !! 24