Explore the vast range of titles available.

\"In addition to outlining practical guidelines for planting and harvesting, this book addresses healing completely in emotional and psychological form with a specific emphasis on each woman's spiritual journey.\"--Back cover.

Despite the criticality of adherence to tuberculosis treatment, there is paucity of rigorous experimental research exploring the efficacy of interventions to promote adherence and a greater lack of inquiry addressing the integral role of adherence behaviour. The aim of this formative study was to examine the way in which the Wisepill evriMED Medication Event Reminder Monitor (MERM) was used among outpatients with drug susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis. In depth interviews were conducted with 20 outpatients receiving treatment from two public healthcare facilities in Thanh Hoa, a rural province in northern Viet Nam. Patients had been enrolled in a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effect of using the MERM device upon adherence for between 1-3 months. The control group used the device without an alert, while the intervention group used the device with a daily alert and scheduled dosing history review. All 20 patients interviewed were supportive of using the MERM device. Those able to be at home at the time that their treatment was due (50%) used the device as intended. Patients who worked all reported separating the time when the box was opened from the time at which they ingested their medication. Patients expressed fidelity to the prescribed medication taking time and concerns regarding the portability of the device. Limitations of the study surround the inclusion of a small sample population that did not experience factors that further compromise adherence. Data recorded by the box did not always accurately reflect usage patterns. The alert in the intervention arm was able to support adherence only in patients who did not work while completing their treatment. MERM implementation can be improved by better aligning prescriber instructions with patients' daily routines, and increasing the use of adherence data to guide adherence support practices. Healthcare staff need to be aware of potential barriers to optimal use of MERM devices. A rigorous qualitative approach to formative assessment is essential to inform the scale up of new digital technologies.

Access to medicines without prescription is a major contributing factor for self-medication practices. This study was designed to examine the ratio of non-prescribed medicines sales and self-medication practices in Punjab, Pakistan. This study also evaluates the reasons for self-medication within its communities. An observational study was conducted in 272 systemically selected pharmacies to analyze medicines-related sales, with or without prescription. A cross-sectional survey was performed between June 2015 and November 2016. Consumers were interviewed about their self-medication practices. Of the pharmacies surveyed, 65.3% participated in the study. A total of 4348 medicines were purchased for self-medication by 3037 consumers (15.2% of all study participants), of which 873 (28.7%) participated in an interview. Majority (81.2%) medicine purchaser, (90.9%) interview participants, and (59.4%) drug users were male. On average, each community pharmacy sold 7.9 medicines without prescription each day, to an average of 5.5 customers. Many participants (28.9%) had matriculation in their formal education. The medicines most often sold for self-medication were analgesics and antipyretics(39.4%). More than 25% of participants reported fever symptoms and 47.8% assumed their illness was too trivial to consult a doctor. Media advertisements were the most common source of information for participants (46.7%). Many types of medicines were often sold without prescription from community pharmacies. Self-medication was common practice for a wide range of illnesses. Pakistan also needs effective implementation of policies to monitor medication sales. Public education about rational medication and limits to advertising medicine are very necessary.

Background To date, there is no effective treatment for COVID-19, which is a pandemic disease, caused by a novel coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. In Togo, where four in five people practice self-medication, the absence of a cure for COVID-19 and the constant progression of the disease requires an assessment of self-medication patterns in the context of the pandemic. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of self-medication to prevent COVID-19 and its associated factors in Lomé , Togo. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Lomé , the capital city of Togo, from April 23rd to May 8th, 2020, with a sample of participants from five sectors: the healthcare, air transport, police, road transport and informal sectors. The participants were invited to provide information about their self-medication practices to prevent COVID-19 in the 2 weeks preceding the survey. Results A total of 955 participants (71.6% men) with a median age of 36 (IQR 32–43) were included. Approximately 22.1% were in the air transport sector, 20.5% were in the police sector, and 38.7% were in the health sector. The overall prevalence of self-medication to prevent COVID-19 was 34.2% (95% CI: 31.2–37.3%). The most commonly used products were vitamin C (27.6%) and traditional medicine (10.2%). Only 2.0% of participants reported using chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine. Female sex (aOR=1.90; p < 0.001), work in the health sector (aOR=1.89; p = 0.001), secondary education level (aOR= 2.28; p = 0.043) and university education level (aOR= 5.11; p < 0.001) were associated with self-medication. Conclusion One-third of the individuals in high-risk populations in Lomé practiced self-medication. Intensifying awareness campaigns is crucial to fight misinformation about alleged COVID-19 prevention products on social media.

Background Although over the counter (OTC) drugs are believed to be relatively safe, their inappropriate use could have serious implications. The aim of the study was to assess the practice of self-medication, prevalence of risky practice and its associated factors in pharmacy outlets of Asmara, Eritrea. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 609 customers in 20 pharmacy outlets in Asmara between August and September, 2017. Two-stage cluster sampling was employed and data were collected using a structured questionnaire through face to face exit interviews. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression were performed using SPSS (version 22). Results Of the 609 customers, 93.7% had practiced self-medication with OTC drugs; of which 81.8% were at risky practice. On average, each participant was using OTC drugs at least once a month (Median = 1, IQR = 3.67). Educational level ( p  < 0.0001), religion ( p  = 0.047), occupation ( p  = 0.027) and knowledge regarding OTC drugs ( p  = 0.019) were significantly associated with risky practice. Respondents with elementary and below educational level were fifteen times (AOR = 15.49, CI: 1.97, 121.80) at higher risk compared to those with higher education, and students were almost three times (AOR = 2.96, CI: 1.13, 7.73) at higher risk than governmental employees. Furthermore, respondents with below average score in knowledge were more likely to be engaged in risky practice (AOR = 1.83, CI: 1.11, 3.04) compared to those with above average score. The most frequently preferred OTC drug group was analgesics (34.3%) followed by antipyretics (15.7%) and cough and cold preparations (14.2%). About 14% of the respondents admitted that they had taken more than the recommended dose and 6.9% had experienced drug related problems following the consumption of OTC drugs. Always, 35% of the respondents read package insert(s) and 73.9% check expiry dates while purchasing OTC drugs. Refrigerating OTC drugs, where it is not recommended, was also one of the prominent risky practices. Conclusions This study revealed that inappropriate self-medication practice with OTC drugs was prevalent requiring early intervention to minimize the risks.

Background Antimicrobial self-medication is common in most low and middle income countries (LMICs). However there has been no systematic review on non-prescription antimicrobial use in these settings. This review thus intended to establish the burden, risk factors and effects of antimicrobial self-medication in Low and Middle Income Countries. Methods In 2012, we registered a systematic review protocol in PROSPERO (CRD42012002508). We searched PubMed, Medline, Scopus, and Embase databases using the following terms; “self-medication”, “non-prescription”, ‘self-treatment’, “antimicrobial”, “antimalarial”, “antibiotic”, “antibacterial” “2002-2012” and combining them using Boolean operators. We performed independent and duplicate screening and abstraction of study administrative data, prevalence, determinants, type of antimicrobial agent, source, disease conditions, inappropriate use, drug adverse events and clinical outcomes of antibiotic self-medication where possible. We performed a Random Effects Meta-analysis. Results A total of thirty four (34) studies involving 31,340 participants were included in the review. The overall prevalence of antimicrobial self-medication was 38.8 % (95 % CI: 29.5-48.1). Most studies assessed non-prescription use of antibacterial (17/34: 50 %) and antimalarial (5/34: 14.7 %) agents. The common disease symptoms managed were, respiratory (50 %), fever (47 %) and gastrointestinal (45 %). The major sources of antimicrobials included, pharmacies (65.5 %), leftover drugs (50 %) and drug shops (37.5 %). Twelve (12) studies reported inappropriate drug use; not completing dose (6/12) and sharing of medicines (4/12). The main determinants of antimicrobial self-medication include, level of education, age, gender, past successful use, severity of illness and income. Reported negative outcomes of antimicrobial self-medication included, allergies (2/34: 5.9 %), lack of cure (4/34: 11.8 %) and causing death (2/34: 5.9 %). The commonly reported positive outcome was recovery from illness (4/34: 11.8 %). Conclusion The prevalence of antimicrobial self-medication is high and varies in different communities as well as by social determinants of health and is frequently associated with inappropriate drug use.

To evaluate a family doctor-led, community-based intervention to reduce non-prescription antibiotic use. We conducted a parallel-group, cluster-randomized controlled trial at 22 community health centres in Shenzhen, China, over an 8-month period in 2023. We randomly (1 : 1) assigned community health centres to provide a 4-week, family doctor-led, community-based online health intervention, or to provide routine care only. Eligible participants were adults aged 18 to 75 years who had resided in the community for more than 6 months. The primary outcome was the level of non-prescription antibiotic use (including self-medication with antibiotics and purchase of antibiotics without a prescription). Secondary outcomes were: levels of self-medication with antibiotics; purchase of antibiotics without a prescription; self-storage of antibiotics; and prescribed antibiotic use. We enrolled 1550 participants, with 788 assigned to the intervention group and 762 to the control group. We observed a significant decrease in non-prescription antibiotic use in the intervention group compared to the control group (odds ratio, OR: 0.49; 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.31-0.77) at 6 months. There was a significant reduction in self-medication (OR: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.13-0.83) and purchase of antibiotics without a prescription (OR: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.37-0.94), but not in self-storage (OR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.54-1.18) or prescribed antibiotic use (OR: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.48-1.87) at 6 months. The family doctor-led, community-based intervention demonstrated promising effectiveness and feasibility. This study provides valuable insights for the design and implementation of such interventions aimed at promoting rational use of antibiotics.

Self-medication is common in many developing and developed countries. The young population and students are highly influenced and opt for self-medication. Healthcare students often practice self-medication despite their knowledge of both the positive and negative consequences. Thus, the goals of the present study included estimating the difference in knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding self-medication between healthcare students and identifying the influence of demographic characteristics on the knowledge, attitude, and practice among healthcare students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate healthcare students at a private university in South India. The non-probabilistic convenience sampling technique was employed in this study. The pre-validated questionnaire was used to collect data. Binary logistic regression and chi-square tests were used to analyze the data. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. A total of 466 healthcare students participated in the current survey, 234 of whom were males. The most current study participants were pharmacy students (44.8%), followed by nursing students (21.5%). More than 85.6% and 84.8% of the study participants had adequate knowledge and a positive attitude regarding self-medication usage. However, good practice was low (15.9%). The male participants tend to have a more positive attitude than females (p < 0.001). The nursing students had a higher positive attitude towards self-medication (p = 0.002). The practice of self-medication differs significantly among medicine and allied health students compared to pharmacy students (p = 0.002 and p = 0.006). Most students obtained information about self-medication from community pharmacists (41.2%), followed by social media networks or the internet (24.5%). Most of the current participants agree that self-medication is not safe in all age groups. The results highlight the urgent need for structured educational interventions and public health awareness to promote responsible self-medication, including better curriculum content, interprofessional collaborative education, and restricted access to health information.

One of the inappropriate health seeking behaviours (HSBs) people express when they feel ill is self-medication (SM) with antibiotics. The consequence of SM with antibiotics is the increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Therefore, this study aimed to assess HSBs and the practice of SM with antibiotics among adults in Abakaliki, Nigeria. The study was undertaken using community-based cross-sectional study design. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 448 study respondents. Data were collected with interviewer-administered questionnaire in May 2021 and analysed using SPSS version 26. Frequency tables were used to present the descriptive statistics. Bivariate and multivariate analyses of HSB and practice of SM with antibiotics against socio-demographic characteristics were done and statistically significant findings were considered with the alpha level of significance set at 5%. Only 161 (35.9%) of the respondents had appropriate HSB (consulting a doctor) as their first action when experiencing a health problem. Factors reported by majority of respondents to influence HSBs were perceived severity of illness 321 (71.7%), knowledge/past experience of illness 306 (68.3%), and cost of treatment 304 (67.9%). The predictors of HSB were being single (AOR = 0.349, 95%CI = 0.172–0.709), privately/self-employed (AOR = 0.337, 95%CI = 0.158–0.720), unemployed (AOR = 0.219, 95%CI = 0.074–0.645), living with family members (AOR = 0.549, 95%CI = 0.307–0.981), and earning ≥ 100,000 naira (AOR = 3.619, 95%CI = 1.271–10.303). Many respondents 431 (96.2%) had ever practiced antibiotics SM. Over half 252 (58.5%) had practiced antibiotics SM in the previous three months before the study. Factors reported to influence antibiotics SM were successful treatment from previous use of prescribed antibiotics 366 (84.9%), easy access to antibiotics from drug stores 357 (82.8%), knowledge/past experience of illness 326 (75.6%), and affordable cost of care in drug stores 325 (75.4%). The predictors of antibiotics SM were being single (AOR = 0.578, 95%CI = 0.351–0.953) and earning 30,000–49,999 naira (AOR = 0.463, 95%CI = 0.268–0.802). Most of the respondents had inappropriate HSBs and almost all had practiced antibiotics SM previously. There is need for mass sensitisations and enforcement of antibiotic dispensing laws in Nigeria. Also, scaling up health insurance in communities may address some identified factors influencing HSBs and SM, such as insufficient funds to visit a health facility.

Background In Uganda, many people self-medicate and the practice raises important questions about access to healthcare, patient choices, and the increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the prevalence and factors associated with self-medication in Uganda. Methods We searched Scopus, PubMed, and Embase databases, WHO AFRO, UNIPH registries, and Google Scholar search engine from inception to November 2024 using the algorithm “Self-Medication” AND “Uganda”. Twenty-two eligible studies were included while adhering to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA). Results A total of 9113 participants were represented across different demographics and regions of Uganda. Our analysis revealed a 55.63% (95%CI [40.40; 70.66] pooled prevalence of self-medication in Uganda. Antibiotics are the commonly self-medicated drugs and ease of access to medications, perceived cost effectiveness, long hospital waiting time, home storage of drugs (leftovers), and perceptions of minor illnesses were key contributors to self-medication behaviour. Conclusion At least 1 in 2 Ugandans self-medicate and antibiotics constitute the dominant self-medicated drugs compounding the situation in an era of antimicrobial resistance. Awareness campaigns on the dangers of self-medication will be timely.