Practices of Self-Medication for Oral health Problems in Dental Patients of Peshawar: Hospital based study

Abstract

Introduction:  Self-medication is termed as the use of medicines or its substitutes without the prior consultation or suggestion of the healthcare providers. The center for disease control and prevention estimated the prevalence of oral health problems 26%. The WHO estimated 50-70% of Pakistani population with dental caries. With the high prevalence of Oral health problems, the increase in practice of self-medication is likely.

Objectives: To assess the description of practices of Self Medication among the dental patients of Peshawar for oral health problems. The secondary objective was to determine factors of self-medication practice and ignorance to purse treatment for oral health problem.

Methodology: It was a cross sectional analytical study. 377 participants were included in the study. The data was collected from two dental colleges and three dental departments in the Peshawar city. Convenient sampling technique was used, and data was collected through a pre-tested questionnaire. The participants’ minimum age was 18 years. The questionnaire included three parts one for the sociodemographic data, second for the practices of self-medication and the later part was about the awareness of oral health hygiene.

Results:  Practice of self-medication for all health-related problems was statistically significant for education status with P=0.02. The participants reported causes of Self-medication as swelling 42.7%, dental caries 40.6% and bleeding gums 16.7%. Age P=0.00 and occupation status P=0.00 were found highly significant with causes of self-medication. The sources of information for self-medication were family members 40.6%, pharmacy 25.7%, friends 22.3% and social media 11.4%. It was found highly significant with occupation status P=0.00. Reasons for self-medication were pain severity 34%, poor access to dental care 29.2% and cost of healthcare 21.5%. It was associated with occupation status by P=0.00. The awareness about oral health hygiene was recorded well in 62.1% of participants, poor in 28.6% and excellent in 9.3% of participants.

Conclusion: The results showed practices of self-medication for all health-related problems in 60% of the patients, and 52% in the patients for oral health problems. The health authorities and health awareness and promotion interventions need to be focused on this issue.

Keywords:  Self-medication, oral health, dental, toothache