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ABSTRACT
Background
Self-medication practices (SMP) are a major public health concern that lead to the irrational use of drugs eventually resulting in adverse drug events. The present study aimed to assess the parental perceptions and practices regarding the self-medication of their children.
Methods
A validated questionnaire (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.802) was utilized in this cross-sectional study to analyze parental SMP in their children and associated factors among the residents of Southern Punjab, Pakistan.
Results
Out of 420 study participants, 391 met the eligibility criteria and were included in the final analysis. Among them, a majority (90.5%) of respondents self-medicate their children frequently with antipyretic (86.7%), anti-emetics (54.2%), analgesics (55.1%), and antibiotics (52.0%) for illnesses like fever (95.5%), cough (89.5%), vomiting (69.2%), flu (57.3%), and diarrhea (52.3%). The parental age (p < 0.001), number of children (p = 0.021), level of education (p < 0.001), and profession (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with SMP.
Conclusion
The current study revealed a high prevalence of parental SMP among their children in Southern Punjab, even with prescription-only medication like antibiotics. Health regulatory agencies in Pakistan should take aggressive measures to address the increasing self-medication trend in children by initiating parental educational programs.
Acknowledgements
The authors will like to acknowledge the cooperation and support of Al-Shifa Children's Hospital, Multan, and District Headquarter Hospital Muzaffargarh for data collection at their premises.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Authors contributions
MAK, AM, HB, and MFR made substantial contributions to conception and design. MSA, MAK, AM, II, and IA performed data analysis and acquisition of data. MFR, MAK, and MSA took part in the interpretation of data. All the authors were involved in the writing of the initial draft and the approval of the final version of the manuscript. All authors gave final approval of the version to be published; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Muhammad Ali Khalil
Muhammad Ali Khalil completed his MPhil in Pharmacy Practice at Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan in 2020. He is currently working as a Provincial Drug Inspector in Primary & Secondary Health Care Department, Punjab Pakistan. His research interest includes safe and effective use of drugs and prevention of ADRs.
Muhammad Subhan Arshad
Muhammad Subhan Arshad is a lecturer for the subject of Clinical Pharmacy at Department of Pharmacy, Southern Punjab Institute of Health Sciences, Multan affiliated with Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU), Multan. He completed his MPhil in Pharmacy Practice at Department of Pharmacy Practice, BZU, Multan in 2020. He is an active researcher and working in the subject area of Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Pharmacy.
Abdul Majeed
Abdul Majeed is a lecturer at Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan. He has Ph.D. in Pharmacy and he has recently done Post-Doctorate from Kings College London, UK. He is a Higher Education Commission, Pakistan approved supervisor for M.Phil. and Ph.D.
Imran Imran
Imran Imran is Chairman of Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan. His research interests are Behavior, Neuropharmacology, Epilepsy, and Status Epilepticus.
Humna Binish
Humna Binish is a registered Pharmacist in Pakistan. She completed her MPhil in Pharmacy Practice at Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan in 2020. She is registered Pharmacist.
Imran Ahmad
Imran Ahmad is an Assistant Professor Department of Pharmacy, Southern Punjab Institute of Health Sciences, Multan. He has Ph.D. in Pharmacy from Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan. He also worked worked as Community Pharmacist in UAE.
Muhammad Fawad Rasool
Muhammad Fawad Rasool is Chairman of Department of Pharmacy Practice, faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan. He has Ph.D. In Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics from Germany. He is Professional Member of American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP), International Society of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR), and American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET). He has research interests in Clinical Pharmacokinetics, Safe and effective administration of drugs, and PBPK. He has 120+ Publications in field of Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Pharmacy.