Abstract

*Anil Rai Anita, Madhuri Jinnah, Zakir Mistry and Omar M. Ambani

The rational use of medicines is a healthy practice for both the prescribers and consumers with the help of responsible use of medicines. People’s knowledge plays a vital role in this issue. This study was undertaken to assess the knowledge of public about medication. Observational descriptive study was done during 2008. Study population was 500 general public chosen through convenient sampling. Study variables were age, sex, education, occupation, and knowledge about medicine use. The predesigned, pretested questionnaire was used to collect data after taking verbal consent. Participants’ age ranged from 18 to 53 years; out of which 84% were males and 16% were females. The level of education of the participants varied. Majority (87.8%) possessed the basic idea about drug. One fourth of the respondents (25.6%) had idea about the trade name and generic name of medicine. Just less than half (47.4%) did not know about the storage of drugs; less than one third (30.4%) did not ask about the side effects of medicines. Two-fifth of the respondents (39.0%) practiced self-medication. The interaction between the patient and the doctor was clearly inadequate about the proper use and understanding of medicines. How and when to take their medicines was similar to the findings of Abdo-Rabbo study. Gulf region study revealed the non-adherence (50%) with their prescription. Seventy one percent of the study population reported poor compliance in Gezira State, Sudan. The prevalence of self medication was similar to Oman study (43.0%) and Saudi Arabia study (43.5%) but lower than West Bengal study (89.0%) and Sudan study (81.8%). There was huge gap in knowledge with respect to rational drug use among the general population studied.