Drug Storage and Self-medication Practices in Kashmir, India: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Among the various potential health risks, selfmedication and inappropriate storage of medicines at home are found to be very important. Inappropriate storage conditions and irrational use of medication without medical consultation may result in serious health problems. Worldwide there has been an increase in the self-medication rate, which can lead to waste of resources and serious adverse reactions. Aim: To assess the practice of self-medication and household storage of medicines amongst the study population. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional and questionnaire based study conducted in the southern district of Kashmir, India for a period of six months with effect from 1st September 2021 till 28th February 2022. A total of 471 households were included and interviewed to determine the practice of home storage of medicines and self-medication pattern. Quantitative data was presented as means and standard deviation (mean±SD) and qualitative data as frequency and 95% Confidence Interval (CI). Results: Almost three quarters of the households were having monthly income of less than 20,000 INR whereas 219 (46.50%) of them were illiterate. Proton pump inhibitors, minerals and vitamins, antibiotics and analgesics were the most common medicines stored at home. Drawer was the most common place used for storage of medicines whereas the refrigerator was used in less than 1% of cases for the same. Solid dosage forms were mostly used by the householders and the injectables were least used for house hold storage purposes. Conclusion: The study revealed that the studied householders stored large amount of medicines in homes, often under inappropriate storage conditions. There is a need for better public knowledge and information about the risks of reuse of prescription medications.