COVID-19-Induced Dynamics in Self-Medication Practices and Influencing Factors among Pakistani Population

Self-medication practices possess both positive and negative impacts on people’s health and healthcare systems. Because of the widespread concern about getting the Coronavirus disease from health personnel or general public, the Pakistani population has turned to self-medication for apparent prevention. The study aimed to evaluate the awareness, predictors, and increasing trend of self-medication comparatively before and during the Covid-19 outbreak in Punjab, Pakistan. A web-based questionnaire study was conducted by using non-probability sampling. Data was obtained and expressed as frequency & percentages using SPSS version 23. The possible association was determined by chi-square. Our results indicated 57% of respondents used medicines without a prescription, and 53% reported increasing practice explicitly during COVID-19. Herbal products such as Lemon with honey 71.8%, antibiotics 24.5%, and Senna leaves 37.2%, were utilized as immunity boosters. In contrast, altered medication patterns 35%, adverse reactions 24.4% highest effective measures include fruits & vegetables 44% and following SOP 40%. Major predictors were lack of transport 24.8%, family opinion 28.8%, and unreachable to hospital 24.4%. The most prominent ailments reported to be fever/body ache 42.1%, vomiting/nausea 32.5, cough/sore throat & low/high BP both were 28.1%. Self-medication has become a serious concern, particularly due to the Covid-19 outbreak. The determinants of self-medication need to be understood to design adequate medicine information policies and patient-dispenser education strategies via pharmacy and press integrated approach.